Mikuláš Černák has been acquitted of murder by a regional court after legal proceedings lasting almost four years.
Banská Bystrica regional court acquitted Černák of murder because of insufficient evidence and unreliable witness statements. However, it upheld an earlier court ruling that he be sentenced to eight and a half years for extortion.
In February, the Supreme Court overturned a November 1999 ruling from the same district court which found him guilty of murder, kidnapping, and extortion. He was sentencedat the time to 15 years in prison.
Černák has already spent four years in jail and could be free within two years.
15. Oct 2001 at 0:00 | From press reports of TASR and SITA
