Slovak Court Acquits Millionaire Kocner Again
A Slovak court has acquitted millionaire Marian Kocner once again of having ordered the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee. The verdict is not yet final.
Kocner Cleared of Ordering Murder of Journalist and Fiancee
More than five years after the double murder of Slovak investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, millionaire Marian Kocner has been cleared of ordering his murder. A special court near Bratislava ruled that there was insufficient evidence incriminating Kocner for the murder of the journalist. Co-defendant Alena Z., on the other hand, was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Kocner Cleared, Alleged Accomplice Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
While prosecutors had indicted Kocner as the alleged mastermind and Z. as his accomplice, the Special Court for Organized Crime in Pezinok, east of the capital Bratislava, felt the evidence against Kocner was inadequate. However, the court found it proven that Z. had organized the murder and was also planning other killings.
Both Prosecution and Defense Can Appeal the Ruling
Both the prosecution and the defense can still file appeals against the verdict. Prosecutors had sought life imprisonment for both defendants. The parents of the slain couple left the courtroom before the verdict was read. “I don’t understand the decision,” said father Jozef Kuciak.
Parents of Slain Couple Express Dismay Over the Acquittal
The mother of slain fiancée Martina Kusnirova announced she would appeal the verdict and called it a disgrace for justice. The International Press Institute, an international organization for media freedom based in Vienna, called the acquittal shocking. The institute declared on Twitter that the ruling was another devastating blow in the fight for justice for the two victims. “The fight for justice will continue.”
Background and Aftermath of the Double Murder
Kuciak and his fiancée were shot dead in their home east of Bratislava on February 21, 2018. Street protests erupted afterward, and the government fell apart. Kocner had allegedly threatened Kuciak after he had published reports about his business dealings. Kocner had been accused of being the mastermind behind the murders but was acquitted in September 2020 for lack of evidence. The prosecution appealed, and the Supreme Court overturned the acquittal in June 2021, ordering a retrial. Three other defendants have already been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, including the man who shot the victims. In the meantime, Kocner was sentenced to 19 years in prison for document forgery in a separate case, and the ruling was finalized.