Besides winning the villa, their executioners had planned much more
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| New facts about the murder of the elderly. |
"In an exclusive report, it has been revealed that Tomáš Fiala, a former student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in Valdice prison for the murder of a villa owner and her partner in Prague's Bubenča area. His lawyer is awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court regarding Fiala's appeal to overturn the sentence.
Investigation by PrahaIN.cz into the case uncovered startling details. While Fiala was at large, he allegedly attempted to bribe both law enforcement and judiciary officials involved in his case. Alongside accomplice Jiří Nehyba, they even contemplated impersonating police officers.
To provide context, court records indicate that in 2019, Fiala and Nehyba attempted to fraudulently obtain a historic villa in Prague 6 valued at over 20 million crowns from Marie Drašnarová and Přemysl Herzán. The scheme involved transferring ownership of the villa to a company owned by Fiala for a fraction of its value. Forensic analysis revealed forged signatures on the purchase contract and other documents related to the transaction. The police, initially investigating the disappearance of Drašnarová and Herzán separately, merged the cases upon discovering suspicious activity in the real estate registry.
During the investigation, incriminating evidence was found on Fiala and Nehyba's computers, suggesting plans for further property fraud. Additionally, intercepted conversations revealed discussions about bribing law enforcement and judicial officials.
Furthermore, police uncovered forged police service cards bearing the photos of Fiala and Nehyba. The purpose of these forgeries remains unclear.
Despite these revelations, key figures involved in the case have declined to comment, emphasizing the ongoing legal proceedings. Former head of the Prague police department, Josef Mareš, confirmed that the case has not yet reached a legal conclusion."
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New facts about the murder of the elderly.
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Berdych also found refuge within the ranks of law enforcement. Among the most notorious criminal groups was Berdych's gang, led by David Berdych. With support or direct influence from influential figures within the police force, the gang engaged in widespread criminal activities in the Czech Republic from the late 1990s until 2004.
The Municipal Court in Prague faced a logistical challenge when prosecuting the gang, requiring the use of the High Court's largest courtroom to accommodate all defendants and their legal representatives. Operating in police uniforms with authentic equipment, badges, and documents, they committed robberies, assaults, extortion, and even murder with apparent ease.
Detectives Tomáš Gregor (now with GIBS) and Helena Kahnová dedicated extensive efforts to investigating the gang's activities.
Was Fiala, once a promising mathematics student and winner of the student mathematics Olympiad at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, contemplating emulating the actions of this notorious gang? Did he harbor such confidence in his abilities that he believed law enforcement would fail to uncover his schemes, despite employing multiple experts?
Law enforcement authorities have remained tight-lipped about these speculations. However, if Fiala's lawyer were to succeed in appealing to the Supreme Court, subsequent court proceedings would likely consider these aspects. Furthermore, lawyer Lukáč suggests the possibility of someone else being involved in the murder, citing evidence found at the alleged crime scene in Velká Paseka.
Fiala leased a cabin there in June 2019. "The individual implicated by the evidence here is linked to another criminal case. The police disregarded these leads, supporting our contention that Tomáš Fiala was acting in self-defense and that Drašnarová was killed by her associate," Lukáč informed PrahaIN.cz.
Additionally, psychological assessments commissioned by the Prague Municipal Prosecutor's Office fail to substantiate claims of Fiala's superior intellect. Although the assessments did not diagnose any personality disorders, they noted Fiala's slightly above-average intellectual capabilities alongside pronounced histrionic traits.
Fiala's mother adamantly maintains her son's innocence, attesting to his non-violent nature and exemplary academic record. She pleaded for mercy before a judge in early January 2021 and reportedly submitted a plea for clemency to President Miloš Zeman, the grounds for which remain undisclosed.
