Brno court hears knife attack case against couple, homeless woman

A court in Brno is hearing the case of 43-year-old Pavel Filip and his partner Lenka Honková, who is five years younger. They are charged with attacking a homeless transgender woman with kitchen knives in an allotment area on the outskirts of the city. After additional evidence, no verdict has yet been delivered.

According to the prosecution, it all happened in mid-April in a dilapidated structure the couple had come to visit. Prosecutor Marek Vagaj noted that the indictment refers to the victim as a man because her documents have not been changed.

What the prosecution says

The guests and the resident were drinking alcohol, then Filip and Honková noticed their mobile phones were missing and attacked the resident. According to the prosecutor, the defendants took kitchen knives and attacked the victim several times. Filip, the prosecution claims, grabbed her from behind and cut her neck, while Honková stabbed her in the stomach at the same time. The prosecutor also quoted words that, according to the prosecution, Honková shouted: that her partner should finish the victim off and take the money. When one of those present ran for help, the couple fled.

What was said in court

Filip declined to testify before the panel presided over by Petr Jirsa. Honková described the conflict rather confusingly: at times she denied, at times confirmed, that she had seen a knife in her partner’s hand.

The victim herself gave the clearest account of what happened. She said there had been a lot of alcohol, then Filip said he was looking for a phone, grabbed her from behind and began to cut her, while Honková struck her with a knife from the front. After that, she added, the attackers ran away.

The court will continue hearing the case, questioning the main participants, after which a verdict is due. Until a verdict is delivered, the defendants are presumed innocent.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz