Czech arsonists granted early release are not keeping their promises: Romani victim is getting less money from them now than when they were in prison
News server Novinky.cz reports that the arsonists who attacked the home of a Romani family in Vítkov, Czech Republic in 2009, causing extensive, severe burns to a girl named Natálka who was not yet two years old at the time, are failing to keep their promises to pay her more compensation. According to her mother, their family is getting much less money from the culprits after they were granted early release from prison than they did when the convicts were still inside.
Two of those convicted of the racially-motivated attack, which burned more than 80 % of Natálka’s body, were granted early release from prison last year and promised to pay more money to the family. The reality, however, is the opposite – Ivo Müller and Václav Cojocaru are sending just a few hundred crowns to them monthly, less than when they were still serving their sentences.
Anna Siváková, Natálka’s mother, said the amount of money she is now receiving is not just less than when the convicts were still inside, but it is also being sent irregularly. “Some money is coming from them, but it’s just about CZK 500 [EUR 20] per month. It’s much less than when they were in prison. Back then the payments were regular, now they aren’t,” she told news server Novinky.cz.
Siváková also said one of the released arsonists is claiming to have problems finding employment, which she considers a poor excuse. The third arsonist, Jaromír Lukeš, who was released in September, has paid the family nothing so far.
The fourth convict, David Vaculík, has not sent a single crown of the compensation he owes the whole time he has been in prison. The four convicts are meant to pay significant damages – Natálka was awarded compensation in the amount of CZK 9.5 million [EUR 380,000], while her health insurer was awarded CZK 7.5 million [EUR 298,000].
Natálka will attain her majority next year and has never fully recovered from the tragic attack. Because of her extensive medical problems, she visits the hospital regularly.
Siváková had to accompany her daughter to all of her compulsory schooling because of her health problems. The attack on the Romani family’s home in Vítkov was perpetrated on 18 April 2009, and doctors said it was a miracle Natálka survived.
Three young men threw Molotov cocktails into the house as the family slept. The convicts have to pay damages totalling CZK 17 million [EUR 678,000], most of it to Natálka and the rest to her health insurer.
The small group of ultra-right sympathizers attacked the Romani family’s home just before midnight on 18 April 2009. Three masked perpetrators each threw one Molotov cocktail through the windows of the single-story house.
An accomplice was waiting in a car to drive the arsonists away from the crime scene. The powerful blaze set by the perpetrators almost cost Natálka, not yet two years old at the time, her life and injured her father and mother.
Ivo Müller, Václav Cojocaru, Jaromír Lukeš and David Vaculík were convicted of the racially-motivated arson. Müller and Cojocaru were sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted murder and released in May of last year after serving two-thirds of their sentences.
Lukeš and Vaculík were sentenced to 22 years in prison. Lukeš was conditionally released in September, while Vaculík remains in prison and has not requested conditional early release.
