Alyasry: We Weren't Surprised by Verdict, We'll Probably Appeal against It

Banska Bystrica, 21 October (TASR) - After the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Banska Bystrica ruled in the case of last year's shooting on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Tuesday, Juraj C.'s lawyer Namir Alysry said that the verdict didn't surprise him, and that he respects it but will probably appeal against it. The case would thus be subsequently passed on to the Supreme Court. "The Supreme Court in the past presented the legal opinion that the conditions to qualify the act as a terrorist attack hadn't been met. We'll refer to this previously expressed legal opinion in our appeal," stated Alysry. Juraj C.'s lawyer also stated that no other punishment but life imprisonment can be imposed for committing a terrorist attack, but the court in its verdict reduced the sentence to 21 years. "I will also state this in the appeal. In my opinion, it would be reasonable to suspend the criminal prosecution and appeal to the Constitutional Court, as the court used an extraordinary mitigating provision," said Alyasry. STS in Banska Bystrica on Tuesday found Juraj C. guilty of committing an act of terrorism and sentenced him to 21 years in prison. The attack on Premier Fico took place during the away-from-home government session in Handlova (Trencin region) on 15 May last year. The attacker fired five shots on the premier, causing several injuries to him. ko/df