Former soldier Miroslav Marcek admitted on Monday to the killing of a Slovak journalist and his fiancee, a crime that sparked mass protests leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Marcek told the Special Criminal Court in Pezinok, north of the capital Bratislava, that he accepted guilt, an admission that could reduce his sentence from potential life imprisonment.

Marcek was charged with shooting investigative reporter Jan Kuciak, 27, and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova in their house outside <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slovak-police-charge-three-with-putting-public-in-danger-over-deadly-gas-explosion-267035">Bratislava </a>in February&nbsp;2018.

<img alt="A woman kneels by a memorial of the investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d13d1c02-cfbb-44b6-8944-7899b2b98949" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%286%29_9.jpg" /> 
[ A woman kneels by a memorial on the first anniversary of the murder of the investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

"I am guilty as per article 1," Marcek told the court when the presiding judge asked the four defendants to make statements on the charges presented by the prosecutor.

Two other defendants, including businessman Marian Kocner, who were charged with ordering the murder, said they were innocent. One defendant, who police said helped Marcek to carry out the murder, did not make a statement at the hearing.

The murder led to large demonstrations against graft which forced prime minister Fico and the country's police president to step down.

Several senior justice officials later quit after investigations revealed they had been in contact with Kocner, who was the subject of Kuciak's reporting.

Marcek's confession was not a total shock as Slovak public television reported police sources as saying last year he had admitted his guilt during questioning.

A fifth suspect, Zoltan Andrusko, confessed in December to facilitating the murder and a court handed him a 15-year prison sentence.

Former soldier Miroslav Marcek admitted on Monday to the killing of a Slovak journalist and his fiancee, a crime that sparked mass protests leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Former soldier Miroslav Marcek admitted on Monday to the killing of a Slovak journalist and his fiancee, a crime that sparked mass protests leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico. Marcek told the Special Criminal Court in Pezinok, north of the capital Bratislava, that he accepted guilt, an admission that could reduce his sentence from potential life imprisonment. Marcek was charged with shooting investigative reporter Jan Kuciak, 27, and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova in their house outside Bratislava in February 2018. [ A woman kneels by a memorial on the first anniversary of the murder of the investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova (Courtesy: Reuters) ] "I am guilty as per article 1," Marcek told the court when the presiding judge asked the four defendants to make statements on the charges presented by the prosecutor. Two other defendants, including businessman Marian Kocner, who were charged with ordering the murder, said they were innocent. One defendant, who police said helped Marcek to carry out the murder, did not make a statement at the hearing. The murder led to large demonstrations against graft which forced prime minister Fico and the country's police president to step down. Several senior justice officials later quit after investigations revealed they had been in contact with Kocner, who was the subject of Kuciak's reporting. Marcek's confession was not a total shock as Slovak public television reported police sources as saying last year he had admitted his guilt during questioning. A fifth suspect, Zoltan Andrusko, confessed in December to facilitating the murder and a court handed him a 15-year prison sentence.

Ex-soldier admits to killing Slovak journalist and his fiancee

A Slovak businessman and three others appeared in court for the first time on Thursday to face charges over the murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancée, a case that triggered mass protests against corruption.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-slovaks-protest-government-despite-new-pm-36123">Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova</a>, both 27, were gunned down in their house outside the capital Bratislava in 2018.

As she arrived in court, Kusnirova's mother demanded that Kuciak's unfinished investigations be resolved.

Prosecutors say entrepreneur <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slovakia-set-to-elect-anti-graft-lawyer-as-first-female-president-206871">Marian Kocner</a>, a subject of Kuciak’s reporting on fraud cases involving politically connected businessmen, had contracted his killing.

The murders stoked public anger over perceived corruption in Slovakia, forcing Prime Minister Robert to resign. His Smer party faces a tight election on February 29.

The case is a test of Slovak police and judicial independence given that the investigation exposed business and personal links between Kocner and police and public officials.

"We will be satisfied only when all the cases Jan wrote about are solved. Then their deaths will make at least some sense. It’s not enough to convict the murderers," Zlatica Kusnirova told reporters as she entered the Special Criminal Court in Pezinok near the capital Bratislava.

At Thursday's hearing judges will either set the date for the trial or ask prosecutors to submit more evidence.

Guards in balaclavas and bearing automatic rifles led the handcuffed defendants into a courtroom.

At the start of the hearing, the prosecutor and all defendants including two men who allegedly carried out the murder and a woman accused of being an intermediary said no when asked by the judge if they wanted a deal for a reduced sentence in exchange for confession.

Alena Zsuzsova, who prosecutors say was an intermediary, said: "I am not interested, I am innocent."

All face up to life in prison if convicted.

The court may impose a reduced sentence if they confess during the main trial. Slovak media and Kuciak's family lawyer have said one the defendants had admitted during the investigation to be the shooter.

A fifth man has confessed to facilitating the killing and has made a plea deal with prosecutors to act as a witness.

Prosecutors said in August they had extracted tens of thousands of messages from Kocner’s phone containing communication with "representatives of state bodies and the justice system".

The revelations caused several senior officials to resign. Slovakia's former chief prosecutor was charged with abuse of power in a case also involving Kocner.

A Slovak businessman and three others appeared in court for the first time on Thursday to face charges over the murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancée, a case that triggered mass protests against corruption.

A Slovak businessman and three others appeared in court for the first time on Thursday to face charges over the murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancée, a case that triggered mass protests against corruption. Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were gunned down in their house outside the capital Bratislava in 2018. As she arrived in court, Kusnirova's mother demanded that Kuciak's unfinished investigations be resolved. Prosecutors say entrepreneur Marian Kocner, a subject of Kuciak’s reporting on fraud cases involving politically connected businessmen, had contracted his killing. The murders stoked public anger over perceived corruption in Slovakia, forcing Prime Minister Robert to resign. His Smer party faces a tight election on February 29. The case is a test of Slovak police and judicial independence given that the investigation exposed business and personal links between Kocner and police and public officials. "We will be satisfied only when all the cases Jan wrote about are solved. Then their deaths will make at least some sense. It’s not enough to convict the murderers," Zlatica Kusnirova told reporters as she entered the Special Criminal Court in Pezinok near the capital Bratislava. At Thursday's hearing judges will either set the date for the trial or ask prosecutors to submit more evidence. Guards in balaclavas and bearing automatic rifles led the handcuffed defendants into a courtroom. At the start of the hearing, the prosecutor and all defendants including two men who allegedly carried out the murder and a woman accused of being an intermediary said no when asked by the judge if they wanted a deal for a reduced sentence in exchange for confession. Alena Zsuzsova, who prosecutors say was an intermediary, said: "I am not interested, I am innocent." All face up to life in prison if convicted. The court may impose a reduced sentence if they confess during the main trial. Slovak media and Kuciak's family lawyer have said one the defendants had admitted during the investigation to be the shooter. A fifth man has confessed to facilitating the killing and has made a plea deal with prosecutors to act as a witness. Prosecutors said in August they had extracted tens of thousands of messages from Kocner’s phone containing communication with "representatives of state bodies and the justice system". The revelations caused several senior officials to resign. Slovakia's former chief prosecutor was charged with abuse of power in a case also involving Kocner.

Four tried in Slovak journalist's killing reject deal

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Ex-soldier admits to killing Slovak journalist and his fiancee

Four tried in Slovak journalist's killing reject deal