Key witness in arson case refuses to give evidence

A key witness in the case of a premeditated arson attack against a Roma family which left a two-year old scarred for life has refused to take the stand saying he feared for his life and that of his family. The man, who works as a voluntary fire fighter, helped the police trace the four culprits responsible for the attack in Vitkov after overhearing a phone conversation in which there was a clear reference to the planned attack. On Tuesday he told an Ostrava court he would not stand as witness after receiving death threats. Four right-wing extremists have been charged with attempted murder and face 15 years in prison.