Man gets four years in prison for throwing beer glass, iron bar at neo-Nazis

A man who threw a half-liter beer glass and an iron bar at those attending an event convened by the racist Workers’ Party last year in Krupce (Teplice district) has been sentenced by a court in Teplice to four years in prison for attempted grievous bodily harm. The Mlada fronta DNES newspaper published the news in today’s North Bohemian insert. The extremist party convened the event on 25 April 2009 at a housing estate where most of the residents are Roma.

Approximately 100 right-wing radicals traveled to Krupce and were met by about 400 Roma, one of whom found an iron bar in the park and concealed it, allegedly to defend himself with. The man first threw a full beer glass into the crowd of right-wing extremists, hitting a youth and staining his t-shirt. He then took the iron bar from his sleeve and threw it, but no one was hit. The right-wing extremists charged him, but police officers blocked their way and took the man to a nearby police station.

The man was accused of attempted grievous bodily harm, for which the maximum sentence is 10 years in prison. “He was given a heavier sentence because the crime was motivated by his aversion for the political convictions of those he attacked,” Judge Roman Dobes said. Commenting to the news server Naseadresa.cz, Dobes said: “Moreover, at the time the crime was committed, the man was on probation for assaulting a public official. The terms of his probation included a ban on visiting restaurants where high levels of alcohol are consumed.” The man’s probation had expired exactly on 25 April 2009.

The verdict has yet to take effect and the accused is considering an appeal. The state prosecutor was satisfied with the verdict and will not appeal.