Court: Trial of Juraj C. to Resume in August, Security Guards Will Also Testify

Banska Bystrica, 9 July (TASR) - The trial of Juraj C. (name abbreviated due to legal reasons), a pensioner who shot at Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in Handlova (Trencin region) on 15 May of last year, will continue at the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Banska Bystrica in August, TASR has learnt on Wednesday. Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova stated that the agenda includes questioning the witnesses that she has proposed to put on the stand and playing audio recordings. The witnesses include security guards and a camerawoman who filmed video footage in Handlova. She hasn't called relatives to court, as the shooter's wife and children have refused to testify. She estimated that the closely watched trial of the attacker could be completed in three to four days of hearings. Juraj C. is facing charges for the particularly serious crime of terrorist attack against a protected person and faces life sentence. He doesn't think that he deserves a life sentence. Juraj C.'s defence lawyer told the court that while the prosecution of his client is justified, the legal classification of the act as terrorism is disputable. He argued that not every attack on a public official constitutes terrorism. Juraj C. reportedly acted out of anger towards Fico. He disagreed with the government's policies, which he viewed as a betrayal of the EU, and he wanted Slovakia to provide military aid to Ukraine. Juraj C. allegedly chose the government's away-from-home session in Handlova as an opportunity to attack Fico, aiming to render him unable to continue as prime minister. He used a legally owned firearm and fired five shots. The defendant claims that he deliberately aimed downwards and did not intend to kill. On the first day of the trial, 8 July, Juraj C. declined to plead guilty or not guilty and refused to testify, saying that he had already provided all relevant information during the investigation. On Wednesday, he reiterated that he's never felt hatred toward the prime minister, but acknowledged being angry - especially when Fico referred to the cultural community as "spiritually homeless people". am/df