On January 11, 2024, the Berettyóújfalu District Court held a preparatory session in the case of the accused, against whom the prosecution brought charges for the crime of robbery and other crimes.
At the preparatory meeting, the prosecutor presented the indictment and, in the event of a confession and a waiver of the right to a trial, made a moderate motion regarding the duration of the punishment – 7 years in prison – for the defendant.
The accused admitted to the robbery but did not confess his implication in another theft. Given that the defendant’s confession was incomplete, the court referred the case to trial.
According to the first charge, at dawn on May 17, 2023, the defendant unscrewed the window grill from the window at the rear entrance of a cafe in Konyár, and then climbed through the window into the building, from where he stole five unlit lighters, several cans of energy drinks and beer, and several bottles of spirits. The theft caused a total of HUF 62,000 in damage.
Around 3:50 p.m. that afternoon, the man appeared drunk at a woman’s house in Konyár to get money. The 80-year-old woman was cleaning the yard when he sneaked up behind her and then put his arms around her as she was trying to shout for help. The defendant covered the old woman’s mouth and told her that he did not want to hurt her, but if she kept yelling and did not give him money, he would stab her. The victim was very frightened by the accused, and remained motionless and silent, at which point the man demanded money. The frightened woman said that if he did not hurt her and did not enter her house, she would give the accused money. The victim went into the house, while the man waited outside, but he was impatient and told the woman to hurry. The victim took her wallet in her living room, and by the time she got back to the hall, the accused had already entered the apartment building. The elderly woman opened her wallet, from which the man took out one HUF 500 banknote, as well as about HUF 400 in change. After that, the defendant left, and the victim quickly locked her door.
According to the indictment, the defendant also appeared at another property in Konya that afternoon, climbed over its fence, and pushed the front door of the house, so that its lock was broken and the door opened. The man stole a gasoline-powered lawnmower, a drill and food from the property. A few days later, the accused went back to the victim’s apartment. He was able to easily enter the building through the unlocked door, as the victim was unable to fix the door lock in the meantime. The accused stole sweets, alcohol, food and other household items from the property. During the search of the accused, the police found the drill, and part of the food, confiscated it and returned it to the victim.
The trial of the criminal case of the accused, who has been in custody since May 22, 2023, continues in court.
(Debrecen Court)
Picture: illustration.
