Prosecutor files charges over 2018 killing of Ján Kuciak and fiancee that led to mass protests

This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

Slovak authorities have charged a high-profile businessman and three others with murder over the killing of a journalist and his fiancee last year, a case that is still sending shockwaves through the country’s political landscape more than a year after it brought down the prime minister, Robert Fico.

The politically well-connected entrepreneur Márian Kočner and two alleged accomplices have pleaded not guilty to the murder of the journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kušnírová. The fourth suspect has confessed to the shooting.

A fifth man has confessed to facilitating the killing and has made a plea deal with prosecutors to act as a witness in the trial of the other four.

A spokeswoman for the state prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the four suspects could face life in prison on six charges including premeditated murder. The announcement completes the investigative phase of the case, which has been seen as a test of Slovak police and judicial independence.

The murder of Kuciak prompted mass demonstrations against corruption last year and forced the resignation of Fico, who had dominated Slovakia as prime minister for 10 of the previous 12 years.

Revelations of links between Kočner and security officials, which were exposed during the investigation, have led to further resignations in recent weeks.

Kuciak, 27, and Kušnírová were gunned down in their house outside the capital, Bratislava, in February 2018. Prosecutors say Kočner, a subject of Kuciak’s reporting on corruption, had contracted out the killing. Kočner has denied any wrongdoing.

Although Fico resigned over the case last year, his ruling three-party coalition has survived, led by his handpicked successor, Peter Pellegrini.

The case could still have a major political impact on the general election in February, with polls showing a slide in support for the ruling SMER party, and politicians from other parties also playing down their ties to Kočner.

Prosecutors said in August they had extracted tens of thousands messages from Kočner’s phone, including communication with “representatives of state bodies and the justice system”.

Slovak media published parts of Kočner’s messages, leading to resignations of a deputy minister, two prosecutors and a judge.