Defendant Apologises to Former Minister Mikulec for Trespassing at His Home

Bratislava, 28 October (TASR) – In a case concerning trespassing at the home of former interior minister (2020-23) and current MP Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia'-For the People), one of the defendants Marek K. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons] testified before a Bratislava city court on Monday and apologised to Mikulec for his actions, claiming that he only wanted to help his friend, co-defendant Stefan H. The latter was seeking assistance for his sister, a police academy cadet who had been shot by her instructor, the now-convicted Vladimir Separnev. Mikulec, who was not at home at the time of the incident, also testified. The trial at Bratislava I District Court is scheduled to continue on 18 November, when more witnesses are expected to give evidence. The court hasn't ruled out the possibility of hearing closing arguments and delivering a verdict on that date. Marek K. told the court that on the day of the incident he met Stefan H. and two other friends. According to him, Stefan H. was distraught and told them that his sister had been shot at school by her instructor and was in a serious condition. Stefan H. allegedly believed that she should be treated at the police hospital. Marek K. said that after a few hours of talking, he remembered knowing a man working in the armed forces who, in his view, might be able to help arrange her transfer to the police hospital. The three men then went to ring the doorbell at Mikulec's house, but no one answered. They subsequently decided to climb over the gate. "I understood it as an attempt to help his sister, not to harm anyone. When I sobered up, I realised that Mr. Mikulec wasn't the person who could decide on hospital transfers – that was up to a doctor," Marek K. told the court, adding that he knew Mikulec as a neighbour. He said that security guards detained Stefan H. as he was climbing back over the fence, while Marek K. was already on the street. The police arrived within five minutes, he added. "If what had happened to Stefan H.'s sister hadn't happened, and if I hadn't been drunk, I would never have done such a thing. I live a decent life," he said, insisting that neither he nor Stefan H. had any intention of fleeing, as they believed that they had done nothing wrong and didn't mean to harm anyone. In his testimony, Mikulec confirmed that he wasn't at home at the time but was informed by the police that someone had climbed over his fence. He said he learned from the media that the intruder was the brother of the injured cadet. He also clarified that he didn't file a criminal complaint. Speaking to journalists, Mikulec said that he regretted what had happened. "I feel no resentment or hostility towards the perpetrators. I understand, on a human level, that it was a difficult situation for them, too," he said. According to Stefan H.'s lawyer, Marek Polakovic, no criminal offence was committed. "We believe that the material elements required to constitute a criminal act weren't met. Whether this could be considered as a misdemeanour is for the relevant authorities to assess," he told the media. Stefan H. and Marek K. are charged with unlawful entry into a dwelling. According to the indictment, they climbed over Mikulec's fence while he was still serving as interior minister. Stefan H. maintains that he only wanted to speak to Mikulec about why his injured sister hadn't been admitted to a police hospital. The cadet was transferred to the police hospital a few days after the incident. The first-year police academy student was shot on 1 March 2023 during a shooting practice session at a range in Bratislava. mf/df