Former soldier admits he killed Slovak journalist and his girlfriend

Former soldier Miroslav Marcek has admitted to killing Slovak journalist Jan Kuciac and his girlfriend, Martina Kusniova, a crime that has sparked mass protests in Slovakia and resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Marcek has told the Special Criminal Court in Pezinok, north of Bratislava, that he pleads guilty, aiming to avoid the death penalty.

Marcek has been charged with the murder of a 27-year-old journalist and his girlfriend in their home outside the capital, Bratislava, in February 2018.

“I am guilty according to Article 1”, Marcek said before the court when asked to make a statement on the prosecution's allegations.

Two other defendants, including businessman Marian Kocner, who are accused of giving the order of murder, have said they are innocent.

Another defendant has refused to declare himself at the session.

After the protests and Fico's resignation, senior justice officials have left their positions, as investigations have shown they have been in contact with Kocner, businessman who has been at the centre of the Kukic reporting.

Marcek's confession has not been very surprising, as Slovak public television reported based on sources that he has admitted guilt a year ago during court hearings.

The fifth suspect, Zoltan Andrusko, who has pleaded guilty in December, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the case.