Bratislava (AFP)
A Slovak court announced on Tuesday that it had postponed the verdict hearing in the trial of the alleged sponsor of the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée in 2018 which had shaken the country by a month.
The specialized criminal court announced that the verdict for businessman Marian Kocner and two accomplices would be delivered on September 3 instead of Wednesday.
The multi-millionaire and his two alleged accomplices face up to 25 years in prison.
"This postponement may mean that one of the (three judges) has doubts about the guilt of one of the accused," local newspaper Dennik N.
"Since we do not know the reasons for such a decision, we can only respect it," said prosecutor Juraj Novocky, quoted in the same newspaper.
Jan Kuciak was investigating corruption and more specifically the activities of Marian Kocner, a wealthy entrepreneur and real estate developer, when he was killed with his fiancée in what had been described as a Mafia-type execution in February 2018.
The double murder sparked mass protests against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, which ultimately resigned. This movement paved the way for the election of liberal lawyer and anti-corruption activist Zuzana Caputova to the Slovak presidency in March.
Marian Kocner, 56, who is the subject of other prosecutions for suspicious financial transactions and tax evasion, was known for his hostility towards journalists whom he used to insult and threaten.
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