Czech Police say autopsy finds young Romani man's death was not caused by a third party
The Czech Police are asserting that the initial findings of a court-ordered autopsy have not ascertained any third-party culpability for the death of a young Romani man at a pizzeria in Žatec. The man died on 18 October, shortly after 19:00, after getting into a scuffle with other customers which local police officers intervened in also.
“According to the initial findings of the court-ordered autopsy, no third-party culpability was ascertained. All of the circumstances of this case remain the subject of further investigation by detectives in Louny,” state police spokesperson Jaromíra Střelcová said.
According to the eyewitnesses contacted by news server Romea.cz, the young Romani man allegedly behaved very strangely and unpredictably after arriving at the pizzeria. Some sources say he was also aggressive.
Allegedly the man approached a table where several girls were sitting and bothered them. One version of events describes somebody then kicking the young Romani man in the neck.
Four other people are then said to have assaulted him. The eyewitnesses have speculated that the assailants knew martial arts.
According to other information, local police also beat the youth after arriving at the scene, after which he collapsed. Yesterday mourners assembled in Louny and in Žatec to memorialize the young man’s death.
More than 30 people met in Louny, while as many as 100 Romani people assembled directly in front of the pizzeria in question in Žatec after 16:00. Another assembly in front of the pizzeria had already gathered on Wednesday as well to mourn the incident.
According to a local newspaper, the police have undertaken security measures with respect to the memorial gatherings. Representatives of the local authority in Žatec have been on hand to follow the course of the assemblies.
