ECtHR: Erik Adamčo v. Slovakia (Application no. 19990/20, 1 June 2023)
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

Summary/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.

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