Samuel S., who stabbed a teacher and a classmate to death at a secondary school in Spišská Stará Ves last year, has been found guilty of premeditated murder and attempted murder. The verdict was handed down by the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok. Samuel does not deny committing the act but disputes the legal classification stated in the indictment. The verdict is not yet final.
The court sentenced Samuel to 25 years in a maximum-security prison for premeditated murder and attempted murder, ordered mandatory psychiatric treatment, and required him to pay damages to the victims' families and the state. The panel fully accepted the prosecution's arguments and rejected the defense's claims that the act was spontaneous. It also dismissed the argument that messages threatening to kill a classmate and the deputy principal were unrelated to the crime in question. However, prosecutor Michal Šoltýs is not satisfied with the outcome.
“Regarding the sentence imposed, the proposal I submitted was not accepted; consequently, I exercised the option to file an appeal.”
The prosecutor sought a life sentence for Samuel. The court rejected this request, reasoning that, according to experts, there is a chance for the convicted man's rehabilitation, meaning the conditions for imposing the maximum possible sentence were not met. Representatives of the victims share the prosecutor's view regarding the panel's decision. Their legal counsel, attorney Miroslav Cák, comments on the matter.
“We fully agree with the court's conclusion that the murder was premeditated and not the result of a hasty, impulsive act. However, we disagree with the court's interpretation regarding the sentence imposed; we are convinced that the conditions for imposing a life sentence were met in this case.”
The defense, on the other hand, agrees with the court's decision; defense attorney Ľuboš Dobrovič:
"We acknowledge the verdict of the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok, and I will consult with my client. We will decide whether to file an appeal against this decision."
After the verdict was handed down, Samuel reportedly stated that he had expected a similar sentence. The decision is not yet final; the prosecutor has filed an appeal.
Source: STVR
