A Budapest court has ordered the detention of two men suspected of involvement in a fatal stabbing in the city’s popular nightlife district. Both men have previous criminal convictions and allegedly attempted to hide the weapon and their clothing after the attack.
The Buda Central District Court has ordered the two suspects in the Akácfa Street killing to be held in pre-trial detention for one month, according to a statement from the Budapest-Capital Regional Court, as reported by HVG.
A 40-year-old man is suspected of murder, while his 48-year-old accomplice is being investigated for attempted grievous bodily harm.
What happened in Budapest’s Akácfa Street?
According to an official statement from the Budapest Chief Prosecutor’s Office , the incident took place during the early hours of 18 September near the intersection of Akácfa Street and Dob Street in Budapest’s District VII. The area is part of Budapest’s lively Jewish Quarter, a popular nightlife district known for its ruin bars, restaurants and clubs.
The two suspects allegedly became involved in an argument with a 36-year-old man, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
Investigators believe the younger suspect pulled out a long decorative dagger while his companion assaulted the victim. The 40-year-old allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest after he had fallen to the ground. Despite efforts by emergency medical personnel, the victim died at the scene.
The suspects subsequently fled, changed clothes and attempted to conceal the weapon. During the investigation, officers initially detained another 40-year-old man on 19 September, but he was subsequently released after investigators established that there were no grounds for reasonable suspicion against him.
Eventually Police confirmed that both men were arrested in Budapest’s Csepel district on the evening of 20 September.
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Suspects may have used drugs
The court considered several factors when ordering the men’s detention, including their previous criminal convictions, other ongoing proceedings and the risk that they could flee or commit further offences.
According to the court’s statement, the available evidence also raised the possibility that the suspects had consumed drugs. Investigators believe the two men involved other individuals in concealing the dagger and their clothing, raising concerns about potential interference with evidence.
The court concluded that pre-trial detention was necessary to address these risks.
One suspect appeals detention ruling
The man suspected of murder and his defence lawyer accepted the court’s decision, making the detention order final in his case. However, the second suspect, who is being investigated for attempted grievous bodily harm, has appealed the ruling. His case will be reviewed by the Budapest-Capital Regional Court.
The criminal investigation remains ongoing, and neither suspect has been convicted in connection with the killing.
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