Businessman Acquitted of Ordering Murder That Rocked Slovakia

President Caputova says unexpected verdict has ‘shocked’ her
Murder triggered biggest protests since 1989, toppled premier

Marian Kocner in court in Pezinok, Slovakia, on Sept. 3.Photographer: Vladimir Simicek/AFP via Getty Images

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By Radoslav Tomek

September 3, 2020 at 10:31 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

A well-connected Slovak businessman was found not guilty of ordering the murder of an investigative reporter in a case that triggered the biggest political upheaval in the eastern European Union member since the fall of communism.

The 2018 double execution-style killing of Jan Kuciak and his fiancee shook the country of 5.5 million and led to mass anti-corruption protests. It also forced the resignation of then-Prime Minister Robert Fico.