Police officer shot a mover after van dispute — watchdog rules it self-defense

The Prague Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office has upheld the decision by the General Inspection of Security Forces (GIBS) to close the case into a shooting that left a man dead last October. According to the inspection's findings, the police officer, who used his own legally held firearm, broke no laws — the victim died while struggling for the gun after a warning shot had already been fired.

The inquiry lasted nearly a year and concluded on August 27 with a ruling to close the case, said Aleš Cimbala, spokesman for the Prague Municipal Public Prosecutor's Office. He noted that the prosecutor overseeing the investigation agreed with the police's conclusion, though relatives of the deceased — including his father, who was also involved in the confrontation — may still file a complaint.

What happened in Žižkov's Jarov district

The tragedy unfolded on the evening of October 3 last year. An off-duty police officer, who lives in a dormitory nearby in the Jarov neighborhood, was walking home from a shop on Pod Lipami Street when he came across a moving company's van parked on the sidewalk. Annoyed at having to walk around the vehicle, he reportedly picked a fight with the two-man crew — a father and son, both Czech citizens.

According to the prosecutor's office, GIBS's conclusion to drop the case is well-founded, based on an extensive and thorough investigation along with all the evidence gathered. "In the view of the police, the actions under review meet the criteria for necessary self-defense, and therefore do not constitute a crime — meaning criminal proceedings cannot be initiated. For that reason, the case was closed," Cimbala explained.

Source: novinky.cz