Kuciak murder trial
(source: Sme)
Investigative reporter Ján Kuciak was killed in his house in Veľká Mača. His fiancée Martina Kušnírová was shot dead along with him. Very soon after their dead bodies were discovered on February 26, 2018, the police said that the murder was most likely linked to Kuciak’s journalistic work. Unlike most cases of murdered journalists in the world, the police detained and charged not just the persons whom they believe to have fired the shots, but also those who ordered the murder.
The trial with Marián Kočner, Alena Zsuzsová, Tomáš Szabó and Miroslav Marček started on January 13, 2020.
Zoltán Andruskó, who has admitted to having acted as the middleman between those who ordered the murder and those who executed it, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on December 30, 2019 in a separate proceeding, based on his plea bargain deal. He has thus become an important witness in the case against the four persons.
Hitman Miroslav Marček pleaded guilty on the first day of the trial. His case was then singled out for a separate trial. Marček was finally sentenced to 25 years in prison in December 2020.
On September 3, 2020, the senate of the Specialised Criminal Court delivered its verdict in the case. Szabó has been found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in a maximum-security prison. Marian Kočner and Alena Zsuzsová were acquitted of charges related to the murders.
Two judges are convinced of Kočner’s innocence. Third judge disagrees
The Ján Kuciak case will be decided by the Supreme Court on appeal.
Slovak court's verdict in Kuciak case leaves 'bitter taste'
Zsuzsová was found guilty of masterminding the murder of the journalist, but the judges could not find any direct evidence linking Marian Kočner, a subject of Kuciak's stories, to the murder.
Despite one more guilty verdict, culpability for Kuciak murders still unresolved
Kočner is acquitted, again. What happens now?
Prosecutors demand life sentences for Kočner and Zsuzsová
Pair on trial for 2018 killings of journalist Ján Kuciak and fiancee Martina Kušnírová.
Kuciak retrial: New evidence, Kočner’s numerology defence, and cash wrapped in napkins
Here’s what happened during the Kuciak retrial in April.
Kuciak murder retrial nears its end, verdict expected in spring
The Slovak Spectator recaps the Kuciak murder trial.
Five years after Ján Kuciak’s murder, much remains unresolved
Kočner is in jail, Fico is on a roll. What happened to the people connected to the Kuciak case?
Accused pair used codeword for killings in encrypted chat, Kuciak trial hears
The retrial of the Ján Kuciak murder case resumed at the Specialised Criminal Court this week.
Court hears of journalist surveillance as Kuciak murder trial continues
Commando members thought they were uncovering drug crimes.
Important witness says Kočner wanted Kuciak and prosecutors dead
The retrial of the Kuciak murder case continued with the testimony of the main witness whom the court doubted in its first verdict.
Lipšic blocked in garage, Žilinka's loose wheels: Kuciak murder retrial continues
Court heard the testimonies of prosecutors whose murders the defendants are believed to have ordered.
Defendant confesses in prosecutor murder trial
Tomáš Szabó's confession could affect Kuciak killing case.
One judge exchanged in the Kuciak murder case panel
New dates for proceedings set as well.
Restarted Kuciak murder case adjourned following complaints of defendants
The case was connected to planned murder of prosecutors.
Many findings but few convictions: Kuciak-related investigations are progressing slowly
The retrial of Kočner, charged with ordering journalist’s killing, begins on February 28.
The wrong way to put things right
Overturning not-guilty verdicts, especially in cases as emotive as the Kuciak murder trial, is a very bad idea.
A retrial of the Kuciak case could sway people’s trust in the justice system
Slovakia breathes a collective sigh of relief as Kočner is stripped of his not-guilty verdict – for now.
Kuciak case: Court overturned the acquittal of Kočner. What happens next?
The original verdict had been surrounded by questions since before it was delivered.
Justice got another chance in the Kuciak case (reactions)
Bereaved families, journalists and society in general hope for a well-reasoned and just verdict.
Kuciak murder trial goes back to Specialised Criminal Court
The Supreme Court overturned the original verdict. The first-instance court will deal with the case again and consider newly-proposed evidence.
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