Retrial in Case of Ordering Journalist Kuciak's Murder Begins at STS

Pezinok, 26 January (TASR) - The trial concerning the alleged masterminds behind the murders of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova is resuming for the third time at the Specialised Criminal Court (STS) in Pezinok (Bratislava region) on Monday. Marian K. and Alena Zs. [names abbreviated due to legal reasons], who are facing charges in this case, are present in the courtroom. At the same time, the court will for the second time deal with the case concerning the planned murders of incumbent Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka and prosecutors Peter Sufliarsky and Daniel Lipsic. In the case of ordering Kuciak's murder, the Supreme Court overturned two previous rulings of STS. Three verdicts regarding the case are already final. The men who carried out the murders, Miroslav Marcek and Tomas Szabo, were previously each sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Zoltan Andrusko received a 15-year prison sentence. Jan Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova were murdered at their house in Velka Maca (Trnava region) in February 2018. Concerning the case of preparing the murders of the prosecutors, Dusan K. and Darko D. are also facing charges. Both are present in the courtroom. STS originally found Dusan K. guilty in this case, while defendant Darko D. was acquitted. However, the Supreme Court overturned the first-instance verdict from May 2023 and returned the case to STS. Based on last year’s ruling by the Supreme Court, not only was the first-instance verdict overturned, but the STS panel was also changed. The case has now been assigned to presiding judge Miroslav Mazuch, along with judges Marek Filo and Jan Buvala. Renata Greif Radovcicova has been appointed a substitute judge in the case. ko