Szeged murder case: prosecutor seeks life sentence for man who stabbed 69-year-old victim
Criminal proceedings began at Szeged District Court against a 57-year-old man who killed an acquaintance in autumn 2024 for money. The prosecution has requested a life sentence; the defendant has not admitted guilt.
Szeged murder trial begins – man cannot be released before serving 30 years
Criminal proceedings began at Szeged District Court against a 57-year-old man who murdered an acquaintance in autumn 2024 to obtain his savings, according to 24.hu. The defendant is charged with the crime of murder committed for financial gain against a person with limited capacity due to disability, as well as further offences.
The prosecution has requested a life prison sentence in the event the defendant admits guilt and waives his right to trial; in that case, the man could be considered for conditional release only after 30 years have elapsed. However, the defendant refused to testify and did not admit guilt, so the case will be decided at a court hearing.
According to the indictment, the defendant and the 69-year-old victim, who had limited capacity in his district, met two years ago in front of a garage in Szeged. During their conversation, the man asked to borrow money from his acquaintance, who refused. According to information from MTI, the defendant knew that his victim kept cash on him, had a larger sum saved in his current account, and also knew the PIN code to his bank card.
After the loan was denied, the defendant decided to obtain the money by force. He took an eight-centimetre-bladed knife from a shelf, then stabbed the seated victim first at the back of the neck, then at the nape – the stab caused a piece of the cervical vertebra's spinous process to break off. He then shut the garage door, went back, and stabbed the victim in the neck once more. The final stab severed the right internal carotid artery; the victim bled to death.
The perpetrator covered the body with pieces of clothing and also poured bleach over it. He took the victim's shoulder bag, which contained 220,000 forints in cash, a bank card, personal documents, and a mobile telephone. He was unable to withdraw money from the victim's account, but he sold the deceased's telephone.
The body was discovered only in mid-October, but police identified and arrested the perpetrator in a single day.
Source: 24.hu