Overview
- Juraj Cintula appeared in the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica on July 8 for the first hearings of his terror trial.
- Prosecutors upgraded the original attempted murder charge to terrorism, alleging Cintula sought to paralyze the Slovak government.
- He is accused of firing five shots from close range in Handlová on May 15, 2024, wounding Fico four times including in the abdomen.
- Cintula has told investigators he intended to hurt but not kill Fico over disputes on Ukraine aid, media regulations and cultural reforms.
- The court will read charges and question the 72-year-old defendant this week before scheduling additional sessions toward a verdict.