Bratislava
Man steals ham on Ash Wednesday
A 23-year-old Bratislava native stole two blocks of ham weighing eight kilogrammes from a butcher's delivery car on Ash Wednesday, February 28. The pork was valued at Sk1,000 ($21).
The police apprehended the culprit within a few minutes of the theft. When asked why the police had been able to apprehend the young man so quickly, Bratislava police spokesperson Marta Bujňáková said: "Because the young man didn't know it was Ash Wednesday, and God punished him for his appetite for meat."
Kúty
Cyclist hit and left to die twice
A 43-year-old cyclist returning home from work early January 20 was killed after being hit by two separate cars, neither of which stopped to provide assistance.
The victim was first struck by a Škoda driven by a drunk 21-year-old male. The wounded cyclist was lying on the side of the road when a Fiat struck him again and dragged him two kilometres over the pavement. The 50-year-old female driver dislodged the man from the car after discovering his presence, then continued on her way.
Both motorists later confessed to police that they had fled the scene of the crime. Police also discovered that both drivers had had passengers in the car.
Trnava
Human leg left on river bank in protest
A human leg was left on the bank of the Trnávka river in Trnava March 8, allegedly in protest of local hospital director Rinaldo Simansky. Simansky said that hospital staff who want him removed from his post stole the leg from the hospital and informed media of its location by the river.
The leg, which had been amputated in February, had not yet been incinerated because the Trnava hospital's incinerator had been shut down by the local Environment Department Office.
Prague
Slovak goalie shows up drunk for match
Kamil Čontofalský, a Slovak goalie for the top-division Czech club Bohemians Prague, was fined a record 200,000 Czech crowns ($5,400) for appearing at his team's match in Karlín drunk.
The team's coach, Vlastimil Petržela, initially asked that the goalkeeper be kicked off the team. "I have never before experienced such a situation, especially before a match," he said. "Since it was not his first trespass, I wanted him to leave the club."
Petržela said that he "couldn't breathe" when he entered the players' dressing room due to the strong smell of alcohol. The Slovak, who is the goalie for the Slovak national team, admitted having drunk the night before the match and apologised.
Závadka nad Hronom
Naked priest exposed on balcony by angry husband
A young Roman Catholic priest who had been having sex with a parishioner's wife in Závadka nad Hronom was caught in bed with the woman by her husband. Enraged, he grabbed the naked priest, hauled him out to the balcony, and forced him to stand in the freezing weather while calling to passers-by to view the in flagrante priest.
The mayor of the town refused to comment on the issue, but several men in a local pub said the affair had lasted for some time, and that the husband had apparently been the only person in the village unaware of their sexual liaisons. The pub patrons said that the man had always thought his wife visited the priest so often for "confession and absolution".
Zvolen
Man killed at traditional pig slaughter
Jozef Ď., 36, was killed at a traditional pig-killing February 11 in Môťová, when a pistol belonging to his 31-year-old brother Ľubomír discharged.
Police said the gun fell out of Ľubomír's pocket as the two men entered a pig sty and accidentally fired, hitting Jozef in the chest. He died en route to hospital. Police said Ľubomír would be charged with manslaughter and illegal arms possession.
Košice
Thief burned stealing wires
A 17-year-old man from Košice suffered third degree burns on January 4 after illegally entering the firm Komag and attempting to steal high voltage electrical wires. According to hospital staff, he is in shock and will need a minimum of three months to recover.
Komag representatives told the media that their company had been robbed several times in recent years with losses in excess of Sk1.5 million ($32,000).
Košice
Twelve year-old gives birth to baby boy
A 12-year-old girl gave birth to a healthy baby boy June 7 in Košice's Fakultná Hospital.
Attending doctors said there had been no complications during the birth or pregnancy. Doctor Štefan Lukačín said that his hospital helped about five girls between the ages of 14 and 15 to give birth every year.
The girl's mother said that the father of the baby was a 21-year-old man who has promised to marry the mother of his child once she turns 18.
Košice
Hitchhiking teenagers run over by drunk driver
One teenager died and two were wounded in an accident October 13 when three young men who had been hitchhiking outside Košice lay down in the middle of the road in hopes of forcing passing cars to pick them up.
Driver Janette G., 32, who did not see them, ran the trio over, killing Lukáš M., 17, immediately and seriously wounding brothers Erik, 18, and Milan, 16.
Tests revealed Janette G.'s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit at the time. She has been charged with causing bodily harm and criminal menace while under the influence of alcohol.
Compiled by Chris Togneri from press reports
