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Czech court to screen CCTV footage in trial of “machete attack”

27 April 2013
2 minute read

CCTV footage was scheduled to be screened today at the Regional Court in
Liberec, where the closed trial of a group of five men charged with committing
the so-called “machete attack” is taking place. The 2011 attack in the town of
Nový Bor injured three people. If convicted of attempted murder, the defendants
face up to 20 years in prison or extraordinary sentencing.

Two defendants have decided to exercise their rights not to comment on the
footage taken by video cameras positioned directly in bar, while the other three
want to testify. "The aim is to identify the persons at the scene to the
greatest possible extent. They have the opportunity to state whether they
recognize themselves, the other defendants, and the victims. For the time being
we have only heard testimony from one defendant, and we will hear from the other
two this afternoon,” said senate chair Rva Drahotová.

State prosecutor Radim Kadlček said the quality of the footage is not ideal.
"Generally, however, the footage gives us a good basis for determining the facts
of what happened,” he said. It is allegedly clear from the footage who is
holding a weapon and attacking whom.

Romana Staňková, who is representing defendant Antonín Sinu, welcomed the
screening of the footage. “It is clear from the footage that [Sinu] attacked no
one and was not holding a weapon. We have based our defense on that from the
beginning,” she said, adding that the whole attack lasted about 40 seconds and
that it is clear from the footage that Sinu did not accompany the main group
into the bar.

"He did not arrange in advance to go there with them, he unfortunately
happened to be randomly walking by,” Staňková said. During her concluding
arguments she will be seeking to have the charges reduced for her client to a
maximum of battery.

The footage reportedly shows Sinu bending over the most-injured man.
Allegedly he wanted to drag him away, but that is not obvious from the
recording.

Three people were injured during the incident in the "Pivní pomoc" bar in
August 2011, one of them severely. Four of the assailants face charges of
attempted murder and rioting; if convicted, they face between 15 and 20 years in
prison or extraordinary sentencing, while the two juveniles face sentencing half
as long. A fifth assailant faces charges of battery and rioting; if convicted,
he could spend between five and 12 years behind bars.

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