An investigator of the Office of the Fight against Organised Crime has charged 51-year-old Milan J. from Svätý Peter, with premeditated murder, infringement of a home, and illegal possession of a gun. The charged person allegedly shot to death three Roma citizens and seriously injured another two on June 16 in Hurbanovo. If found guilty, the accused could spend up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment, the SITA newswire reported.
The police spokesperson, Michal Slivka, confirmed that that CZ 52 pistol that was reportedly used in the shooting was not licensed. But he refused to give any other details in the case since the investigation is ongoing.
The off-duty municipal police officer drove his passenger car to the front of a house at 5 Komárňanska Street in Hurbanovo occupied by a Roma family. He left his car and started shooting with an unlicensed gun.
He shot dead a 44-year old man, his 19-year old son and 24-year old son-in-law. The fourth victim was the second son of the man, shot in the chest, and the fifth victim was the son’s wife, who was wounded in the leg; both are in hospital and the man’s condition is reported as serious.
Police patrols have been intensified in the area because Roma living in the town have threaten revenge, the Sme daily reported.
Hurbanovo mayor Margita Zemková is trying to calm the atmosphere through a local cable television broadcast. Deputy mayor Karol Lovász stated that the small town has never had any serious problems with Roma residents and does not have a distinct Roma settlement, Sme wrote.
The government proxy for Roma in Slovakia told the media that about 800 Roma live in Hurbanovo.
Source: SITA, Sme
For more information about this story please see: Police continue to investigate shooting in Hurbanovo
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
