Zoltán Andruskó, one of the people charged in connection with the murders of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová and who has cooperated with the investigators since shortly after he was detained, has made an agreement about his guilt and punishment.
Andruskó attended a two-hour meeting at the Special Prosecutor’s Office on October 18. Neither his attorney, Lívia Kňažíková, nor the attorney of the Kuciak family, Daniel Lipsic, gave specifics of the punishment he has agreed with the prosecutor, since it is pending court approval.
Lipšic, however, said it is an exceptional lowering of the sentence to what might be between eight to 16 years in prison. Originally Andruskó faced a sentence of 25 years to life if proved guilty of participating in organising the murder. He will be heard in court as a witness.
The agreement pertains solely to the Kuciak murder case and not the other cases that he faces. Andruskó also faces charges of ordering and preparing the premeditated murders of two prosecutors (Peter Šufliarsky and Maroš Žilinka) and attorney Lipšic. In addition he faces charges of unauthorised gun possession and gun trafficking.
The remaining four persons charged in the murder case, including Marian Kočner, are expected to be indicted soon.
Andruskó’s agreement with the prosecutors has no influence on the court’s decision about the other people in the case.
"Andruskó remains a key witness," said Lipšic after the meeting, as quoted by Sme. It is very unlikely that he would change the testimony that he gave to the police, claiming that Kočner was behind the murder, Sme noted.
18. Oct 2019 at 21:49 | Compiled by Spectator staff