A former hospital chief in the Czech Republic has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for the 2023 murder of his lover and the attempted murder of another woman, a case that has shocked the nation and raised questions about violence against women. Vojtech Č., the former chief physician of Domažlice Hospital, was convicted by the Regional Court in Plzeň following a trial that revealed disturbing details of a brutal attack and a chillingly detached demeanor from the defendant according to local reports. The lengthy sentence, while not yet final, signals the severity with which Czech authorities are treating this case of domestic violence and its tragic outcome.
A former hospital chief in the Czech Republic has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for the brutal murder of his lover and attempted murder of another woman, a case described as a chilling example of a psychological break.
PLZEŇ – The Regional Court in Plzeň delivered the verdict against Vojtech Č., the former chief physician of Domažlice Hospital, who was accused of the violent killings last October.
According to iDnes.cz, the court imposed an exceptional sentence of 28 years, to be served in a prison with the highest security level. The ruling is not yet final.
Court documents indicate the accused first strangled his lover with a rope before inflicting multiple axe wounds to her head. Judge Lucie Bočková stated during the sentencing, “Guilt is unequivocally proven. It is clear that the attack was not trivial, it was forceful, and the victim was unrecognizable. His actions are incomprehensible. He acted on a vengeful basis.” She also added, “A doctor should heal and save people, not take their lives.”
Defendant Showed No Emotion During Sentencing
The court also ordered Č. to pay over 5.1 million Czech koruna in non-pecuniary damages to the victim’s family and the surviving victim. Vojtech Č. listened to the verdict without visible emotion, with his head bowed.
Prosecutor Jiří Richtr had requested a minimum sentence of 25 years, emphasizing that the crime was committed with “despicable motives.” He argued that Č. “chose revenge on those he believed were responsible for the exposure of his infidelity, rather than a normal resolution.” Richtr also pointed out that the female victim was “bound for several hours” and could contemplate “whether he would kill her, when, and how,” which, according to the prosecution, constitutes particularly cruel murder.
Gruesome Details Emerge During Trial
The defense attorney, Pavel Zuska, presented a different account. According to Zuska, “it was not confirmed that he approached her with an axe and that the victim had extreme fear for her life,” and the attack lasted only “10 to 15 seconds.” During testimony, Vojtech Č. described the events as follows: “I choked her for a moment, and she fell to the ground. I tied her up, covered her with a blanket to keep her warm. I asked her why she did it. She laughed at me again. I went for the axe and struck her head several times. Then I started drinking.”
The prosecution alleges that Č. also strangled the second woman with a rope, bound her, and sexually assaulted her, reportedly telling her he intended to kill her: “He wrapped a rope around her neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness… while telling her he wanted to kill her.” Experts determined that the accused does not suffer from any mental illness but is significantly self-centered and unable to resolve his own relationship conflicts. The case highlights the potential for extreme violence stemming from personal disputes, even among professionals.
