The proceedings for presenting evidence in the retrial in the case of the murders of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova have been concluded and closing statements were also completed Tuesday (May 9). Prosecutors have proposed life sentences to Kocner and Zsuzsova, Special Prosecutor's Office (USP) prosecutor Daniel Mikulas said during the closing speech. It is a cumulative sentence, as both defendants have already been lawfully convicted in other cases.
The case of the two murders has been merged with the case of the planned murders of several prosecutors. In the case concerning Kuciak and Kusnirova, the court is deciding on the guilt or innocence of Kocner and Zsuzsova, the original orderer of the hit and his intermediary, according to the prosecution. They were originally acquitted of the charges by the Specialized Criminal Court, but the Supreme Court returned the case for a retrial after appeals were filed in May 2021. A total of three individuals have already been convicted in the case, with Miroslav M. and Tomas Sz. receiving 25-year sentences and Zoltan A. a sentence of 15 years.
As for the case of the planned murders of prosecutors Maros Zilinka, Daniel Lispic and Peter Sufliarsky, the indicted individuals include Marian Kocner, Alena Zsuzsova, Dusan Kracina and Darko Dragic. Tomas Szabo has already been convicted for his role. According to the prosecution, the hits on the prosecutors, which never took place, were also ordered by Marian Kocner.
(TASR)
