Bratislava, September 7 (Reuters) – The trial of the suspects accused of killing investigative reporter Ján Kuciak and his fiancée has been halted after prosecutors reported that two crucial audio files – a recording of a press conference and a telephone conversation with alleged mastermind Marek Kočner – are no longer available.
Missing evidence stalls the proceedings
The court announced that the recordings, which had been submitted as part of the prosecution’s evidence package, could not be located when the judge called for their playback. According to the court docket, the files were listed among the exhibits but vanished before the scheduled hearing, prompting the presiding judge to postpone further testimony.
"The recordings and the phone call have disappeared," the court clerk noted in a brief statement, underscoring the procedural hurdle facing the prosecution.
Prosecutors, who have relied on the audio to link Kočner – a wealthy businessman previously convicted of fraud – to the planning of the 2018 murders, said they would seek to retrieve copies from the original source or submit alternative evidence. The defence, meanwhile, argued that the loss raises doubts about the overall credibility of the investigative process.
Why the case matters for Slovakia
Kuciak’s murder sparked the largest wave of public protests in Slovak post‑communist history, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government and prompting a series of anti‑corruption reforms. The trial, which began in 2022, has been viewed as a litmus test for the country’s commitment to the rule of law and press freedom.
Kočner, who has been in custody since 2019, is accused of orchestrating the killing to silence Kuciak’s investigations into a network of tax fraud and political patronage involving high‑ranking officials. The case has already resulted in multiple convictions, but the alleged mastermind has so far evaded a final verdict.
Legal analysts say the disappearance of the recordings could prolong the trial for months, potentially pushing the final judgment beyond the 2025 deadline set by Slovak law for the completion of high‑profile criminal proceedings. "Delays of this magnitude are uncommon in Slovak courts and may erode public confidence," said a senior professor of criminal law at Comenius University, who asked to remain anonymous.
Human‑rights groups and journalist associations have condemned the setback, urging the authorities to safeguard all evidence and accelerate the investigation into how the files vanished. The International Press Institute warned that any perception of procedural irregularities could embolden attacks on media freedom in the region.
The court is expected to reconvene within the next two weeks to decide whether to admit alternative proof or to order a new forensic audit of the evidence chain. If the prosecution cannot replace the missing recordings, the defence may move for a dismissal of the charges related to Kočner’s alleged command role.
As the trial drags on, the Slovak public remains divided. While many continue to demand accountability for the 2018 killings, others voice skepticism about the judiciary’s capacity to deliver a conclusive verdict amid procedural hiccups. The outcome of this latest delay will likely shape the narrative of Slovakia’s fight against corruption and its commitment to protecting investigative journalists.
