Man hit cyclist with car in Nitra: Court ordered psychiatric treatment
A sixty-year-old man named Pavol, who deliberately hit a 77-year-old paediatrician in Nitra with his car, remains in psychiatric care. The regional court has yet to decide on his appeal.
Nitra tragedy: court confirmed institutional psychiatric treatment of attacker
The district court in Nitra ordered the continuation of institutional psychiatric treatment for a 63-year-old man who deliberately hit a cyclist with his car a year ago. According to Nový Čas, the man was brought before the court directly by police officers from the psychiatric facility where he has been placed since August of last year.
The tragedy occurred last summer in the city beneath Zobor. A 77-year-old paediatrician was returning home by bicycle on that fateful day. Driver Pavol, according to investigators, moved into the opposing lane and deliberately rammed the woman. The consequences were fatal — the woman did not survive the impact.
From murder charge to termination of criminal proceedings
Police detained the man immediately after the incident and within a few hours charged him with the particularly serious crime of murder. The case, however, took an unexpected turn — criminal proceedings were terminated in April of this year. The reason is his insanity at the time of committing the act, which fundamentally changed the course of the investigation.
In court, the man spoke about his life abroad. He claimed that for many years he lived in Florida, where he worked and studied nuclear medicine for two years. He also emphasised that he had never previously had psychiatric problems and was not receiving treatment. Despite his testimony, the court granted the prosecutor's motion.
"The prosecutor submitted a motion to impose protective psychiatric treatment in institutional form. The court granted this motion," said the accused man's lawyer Zoltán Varga.
Man files appeal, case continues
Immediately after the ruling was handed down, the man announced that he was filing an appeal. The case will therefore go before the Regional Court in Nitra, where no final verdict has yet been reached. Varga emphasised that his client fundamentally disagrees with the continuation of institutional treatment and insists on the possibility of outpatient care.
Whether the man will remain in a psychiatric facility or will be able to receive treatment at home has therefore not been definitively decided.
Family of the deceased will not give up
The family of the deceased paediatrician refuses to accept the termination of criminal proceedings. They too filed an appeal against this decision, which has not been ruled on to this day. "The paediatrician was already retired and regularly went to cover for colleagues," a relative of the deceased told JOJ television. Her death affected not only her family but also patients and colleagues who had known her for many years.
After the incident, the man repeatedly declared to witnesses and police officers that he acted because "the entire city of Nitra" was harming him. Today, however, he claims something different: "I cannot explain to myself what happened."
Source: Nový Čas