Prosecutor: I Identified with Court Verdict, Sentence Lawful and Just

Banska Bystrica, 21 October (TASR) - After the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Banska Bystrica ruled in the case of last year's shooting of Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) on Tuesday, Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova said that she identified herself with the verdict, finds it lawful and respects it. At the same time, Habcakova approves of the sentence imposed, which she views as lawful and just. "As you've heard from the STS senate chair, he was convinced by the prosecution's closing argument and essentially agreed with our arguments. All the evidence submitted at the main hearing was decisive, as was the suspect's testimony, in which he explained the motive for his actions shortly after committing the crime. His confession was absolutely spontaneous and authentic. Later, he could have been calculating and used tactics, but this testimony was unambiguous. Other evidence was provided by his phone communications, posts on social networks and communication with an agent. The court weighed them and came to the right and legal conclusion," stressed Habcakova. STS on Tuesday found defendant Juraj C. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who shot Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in Handlova (Trencin region) on 15 May of last year, guilty of committing an act of terrorism and sentenced him to 21 years in prison. The court's verdict isn't yet final. The defendant still has the right to appeal if he chooses to do so, while the prosecutor has waived this option. Juraj C., a 72-year-old pensioner, was prosecuted for a terrorist attack against a protected public official and faced life imprisonment. Habcakova in her closing argument stressed that extensive evidence presented during the trial clearly proved that Juraj C. targeted the government as a collective body led by the prime minister. According to her, it is unacceptable for anyone to use violence as a means to express disagreement with the government's policies, as a general election, in which people can legally express their opinions, exists primarily for this. She also pointed to the fact that the defendant hasn't expressed regret for his actions so far. ko/df