The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Frybl faces psychiatric testing before verdict
Man who admits killing Rebecca Johnson in Lapland to be evaluated before he is sentenced
The Czech man who admits killing a Fife tour guide will be sent for psychiatric evaluation before a panel of judges can deliver a verdict.
That was the decision handed down yesterday at a court in Rovaniemi, northern Finland, after a two-day trial for Karel Frybl, accused of murdering Rebecca Johnson last December.
During the trial Ms Johnson’s parents, brother and sister sat together with their lawyer, across the courtroom from Frybl – who used the name Radek Kovac during his three-year relationship with Rebecca. The family wore purple ribbons to highlight the issues of interpersonal violence.
The court heard details of Frybl and Ms Johnson’s relationship.
Things came to a head on Friday December 3 when the couple argued, and decided to split up, the court heard
That night, Frybl slept in the home of the only other worker at the husky kennels, Joe Pickles.
The three of them were employed by Santa Safaris to lead husky sled rides for tourists through the pristine wilderness area.
Early on the morning of Saturday December 4, Frybl and Mr Pickles got up to inspect the newest trails.
When they returned to the cabins, Frybl argued again with Ms Johnson, culminating in her death, the court heard.
Court documents show she received 10 fatal stab wounds to the upper torso, and 30 more cuts about her body.
Chief prosecutor Juhani Mäki concluded that cuts to her back were inflicted either at the start of the attack, when her back was turned to Frybl, or as she attempted to flee the cottage.
Ms Johnson, originally from Burntisland, also sustained defensive wounds to her hands as she tried to protect herself.
Frbyl says he has no memory of the attack itself, and that when he saw photographs of the crime scene he couldn’t believe the extent of Rebecca’s injuries.
The defence lawyer alleges that time spent in the Czech army deployed to Kosovo and Afghanistan had contributed to mental health problems her client suffers from.
In closing arguments in court, the prosecution said the brutality of the attack, and the large number of knife wounds on Ms Johnson’s body, mean this crime meets the standards under Finnish law of murder, and warrants a mandatory life sentence.
The defence lawyer said this was a blitz attack, with no premeditation, and was exacerbated by her client’s mental health issues.
She told the court Ms Johnson died quickly, so the legal standard for a murder to include some element of crude or extreme brutality was not met.
The psychiatric tests could take several weeks. A verdict and sentence are likely to be issued in written form by the three-judge panel.
No further court appearances are expected.