Czech Justice Minister says decision in the case of the death of a Romani man in Brno was clearly, comprehensibly reasoned by the judge
In response to a demonstration by about 100 Romani people in front of the Regional Court in Brno, Czech Republic, Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has expressed his view of Friday's verdict in the case of the death of a young Romani man there last year. Blažek said the verdict, which has yet to take effect, was clearly and comprehensibly reasoned and that there is no reason to reproach the court.
“The court and the prosecutor agreed that there was no racial or national subtext to this case. The verdict has yet to take effect and was clearly, comprehensibly reasoned by the presiding judge. In that sense there is no reason to reproach the court,” Blažek posted to the X social media site.
“We will see whether any eventual appeals court also identifies with that opinion,” the Justice Minister ended his post. Almost 100 people, chiefly Romani men and women, assembled in front of the Regional Court on Sunday to protest the verdict.
Those demonstrating were responding to the fact that the court acquitted Roman Rohozin, originally from Ukraine. The demonstration was convened by people around the political party Roma Luma.
The incident transpired last June near the Brno reservoir. During a scuffle near a tram stop, Rohozin injured three people with a knife, one of whom, a young Romani man named Nicolas Zahrádka, died.
Soon after Mr. Zahrádka died, some in the Romani community started spreading hate toward Ukrainians. On Friday, the Regional Court acquitted Rohozin because he had acted in self-defense.
“We find the behavior of the defendant has been proven to have featured the signs of necessary self-defense as defined by our Criminal Code. It is true that bodily harm was caused, as was the death of a young person. That is unfortunate. On the other hand, we will not criminalize behavior that conforms with what the law allows us to consider necessary self-defense,” Judge Dita Řepková said on Friday.
The verdict has yet to take effect.
