Four teenagers await the court’s verdict. (source: Korzár/Róbert Bejda)
Five teenagers from a marginalised community in eastern Slovakia have received suspended prison sentences after a brutal attack on a 33-year-old man in Medzev near Košice. The assault, which took place in September 2023, left the victim with such severe injuries that both of his lower legs had to be amputated, according to the eastern Slovak news website Korzár.
The group, aged 13 to 17, pushed the man off a bench, beat him, and sexually assaulted him using a glass bottle. They then stole €60 from his wallet and left him unconscious. The youngest member of the group, aged 13, was not charged due to being under the age of criminal responsibility. The others were tried while at liberty.
The victim, known only as Martin, later crawled to a nearby shop, where a passer-by called for help. He suffered internal bleeding, multiple fractures, and serious injuries to his abdomen and colon, resulting in a 42-day recovery period and permanent disability.
Premeditated cruelty
After being detained and charged, all five teenagers admitted to the assault. They reportedly agreed in advance to attack the man, whom they knew by name and recognised as a homeless person, saying they wanted to beat him up and mock him for fun.
They also told the police that they were under the influence of inhalants.
Martin told investigators that he had been sitting on a bench in front of the local church, drinking wine, when several individuals approached him and began punching and kicking him repeatedly. They then pulled down his trousers. Due to the extent of his injuries, he said he could not recall what happened next.
He regained consciousness the next morning and managed to crawl to a nearby grocery shop.
Suspended sentences
Court-ordered psychiatric assessments confirmed that the five teenagers had mild intellectual disabilities and a history of solvent abuse, but concluded that they were capable of understanding their actions.
The Košice City Court sentenced the four present defendants to three years in prison, suspended for three years. They were also ordered to pay over €100,000 in damages.
The fifth defendant will be tried separately. If he also pleads guilty, he is likely to receive the same sentence.
