ECtHR: Erik Adamčo v. Slovakia (Application no. 19990/20, 1 June 2023) : The Proportionality Factor in the Question of the Use of the Testimony of a Cooperating Accused with an Impact on the Overall Fairness of the Criminal Proceedings

Stanislav Mihálik; Lukáš Turay

doi:10.46282/blr.2023.7.2.760

Authors

Stanislav Mihálik Comenius University Bratislava https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7576-4000
Lukáš Turay Comenius University Bratislava https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8097-1957

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46282/blr.2023.7.2.760

Keywords:

Collaborating Witnesses, Eyewitness Testimony as the only Evidence, Right to a Fair Trial, Overall Fairness of the Proceedings, ECtHR

Abstract

The main task of the presented commentary is primarily the analysis of the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case of Erik Adamčo v. Slovakia (Application no. 19990/20) dated June 1, 2023. This analysis specifically considers the implications for legal practice in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. The legal framework focuses on cooperating individuals and their testimonies during criminal proceedings, particularly considering the necessity of perceiving the proportionality of using such evidence in relation to guarantees securing the overall fairness of the proceedings. Examining this question is particularly significant in cases involving statements of individuals who admitted to committing criminal activities in the initial stages of criminal proceedings and subsequently agreed to cooperate with the prosecution in order to obtain certain benefits. The inherent issue in this regard is not merely the use of this type of evidence but rather the manner in which it is utilised, emphasising the perception of the benefits associated with its provision.

Author Biographies

Stanislav Mihálik, Comenius University Bratislava

Assistant Professor
Comenius University Bratislava, Faculty of Law
Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminalistics
Šafárikovo nám. 6
818 00 Bratislava, Slovakia
stanislav.mihalik@flaw.uniba.sk
Lukáš Turay, Comenius University Bratislava

Assistant Professor
Comenius University Bratislava, Faculty of Law
Department of Criminal Law, Criminology and Criminalistics
Šafárikovo nám. 6
818 00 Bratislava, Slovakia
lukas.turay@flaw.uniba.sk

References

Čentéš, J., Kurilovská, L., Šimovček, I., Burda, E. et al. (2021). Trestný poriadok II. § 196 – 569. Bratislava: C. H. Beck.

Čopko, P., Romža, S. (2018). Obhajoba obvineného v prípravnom konaní. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk.

Kandalcová, A. (2017). Institut spolupracujícího obviněného v komparativním pohledu. In: Fryšták, M. et al. (ed.), Dny práva 2016: Část X. Meze a možnosti inspirace trestního řízení angloamerickými prvky (pp. 75-103). Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Available at: https://www.law.muni.cz/dokumenty/39614 (accessed on 07.12.2023).

Kurilovská, L., Krásná, P. (2023). Práva a povinnosti obvineného aj v kontexte novely zákona o výkone väzby. In: Bárány, E. (ed.),

Poznanie a výklad práva. Otázky metodológie (pp. 299-321). Bratislava: Ústav štátu a práva Slovenskej akadémie vied, v.v.i. Available at: https://usap.sav.sk/documents/publications/zbornik-poznanie-a-vyklad-prava-otazky-metodologie-2023.pdf (accessed on 07.12.2023).

Pirošíková, M. (2023). Odsúdený na základe výpovedí kajúcnikov opäť uspel na ESĽP – Erik Adamčo v. Slovensko. Available at: http://www.pravnelisty.sk/clanky/a1234-odsudeny-na-zaklade-vypovedi-kajucnikov-opat-uspel-na-eslp-erik-adamco-v-slovensko (accessed on 07.12.2023).

Romža, S. (2018). Principle of concentration in criminal proceedings. Praha: Leges.

Štrkolec, M. (2022). Zákonnosť v trestnom práve. Bratislava : C. H. Beck.

Vojtuš, F. (2020). Skupiny osôb podľa trestného zákona, ich vzájomné vzťahy a rozdiely. In: Markova, V., Janko, S. (eds.), Aktuálne otázky trestného práva v teórii a praxi. Zborník príspevkov z 8. ročníka interdisciplinárnej celoštátnej vedeckej konferencie s medzinárodnou účasťou konanej dňa 10. Marca 2020 (pp. 133-148). Bratislava: Akadémia Policajného zboru v Bratislave.

Vrtíková, K., Mokrá, I. (2023). Spolupracujúci obvinený v trestnom konaní v intenciách aplikačnej praxe a úvahy de lege ferenda. Praha: Leges.

ECtHR, Schenk v. Switzerland, app. no. 10862/84, 12 July 1988.

ECtHR, Erdem v. Germany (dec.), app. no. 38321/97, 09 December 1999.

ECtHR, Jalloh v. Germany [GC], app. no. 54810/00, 11 July 2006.

ECtHR, Lee Davies, v. Belgium, app. no. 18704/05, 28 July 2009.

ECtHR, Bašić v. Croatia, app. no. 22251/13, 25 October 2016.

ECtHR, Moreira Ferreira v. Portugal (no. 2) [GC], app. no. 19867/12, 11 July 2017.

ECtHR, Vasaráb a Paulus v. Slovakia, app. nos. 28081/19 and 29664/19, 25 and 29 May 2019.

ECtHR, Adamčo v. Slovakia, app. no. 45084/14, 12 November 2019.

ECtHR, Xenofontos and Others v. Cyprus, app. nos. 68725/16, 74339/16 and 74359/16, 25 October 2022.

ECtHR, Adamčo v. Slovakia, app. no. 19990/20, 1 July 2023.

European Convention on Human Rights as amended by Protocols Nos. 11, 14 and 15, supplemented by Protocols Nos. 1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 16.

Proposal of the law amending and supplementing Act No. 300/2005 Coll. Criminal Code as amended by later regulations, and amending and supplementing certain laws. Available at: https://rokovania.gov.sk/RVL/Material/29089/1 (accessed on 07.12.2023).

Slovakia, Resolution of the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic, No. IV. ÚS 10/2022 (18 January 2022).

Slovakia, Resolution of the Supreme Court Case, No. 5To/9/2013 (24 April 2014).

Slovakia, Resolution of the Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic No. 1Tdo/27/2023 (11 October 2023).