Twelve years for death of acquaintance. Man threw burning firecracker into cabin
A court in Zlín sentenced a man from Provodov to 12 years in prison for setting fire to a construction cabin in February with an intoxicated acquaintance inside. The victim burned to death.
Twelve years for death of acquaintance. Man threw burning firecracker into cabin
The Zlín regional court on Thursday sentenced Martin Vyoral, a 32-year-old man from Provodov in the Zlín district, to twelve years in a high-security prison. In early February, he set fire to a construction cabin in which his intoxicated acquaintance was sleeping. The man died in the flames.
When announcing the verdict, presiding judge Radomír Koudela did not spare sharp words. According to him, the defendant let the victim burn to death like an animal without calling for help. He described it as a repugnant and horrific manner of death.
The incident occurred during the night of 4–5 February. Vyoral and the victim had spent the entire evening drinking hard liquor and beer. Subsequently, the defendant threw a lit firecracker into the cabin where his acquaintance was lying in bed. He then closed the door and went home. The judge described how the victim was heavily intoxicated and unable to escape whilst flames shot out of the cabin.
Vyoral did not call the fire brigade until an hour and a quarter later. In the meantime, the fire spread and the entire cabin burned to ashes. Moreover, he initially attempted to conceal his role – he claimed that someone inside had been waving a burning cloth.
The man expressed remorse before the court. He had known the deceased since childhood, bought him food, drink and cigarettes, and paid the electricity for his shelter. In return, the acquaintance helped him with his house and garden. This relationship had lasted eight years. Vyoral said he was fond of him and that the deceased seemed like a brother to him.
The state prosecutor initially recommended fourteen years. The court ultimately chose the lower limit of the sentencing range, which is 12 to 20 years. The reason was that the victim probably did not suffer greatly – he most likely suffocated from carbon monoxide before the flames could reach him. However, the judge emphasised that it was an innocent person who deserved to be treated with humanity.
The state prosecutor appealed against the sentence. Vyoral also reserved the right to appeal.
Source: Novinky.cz