Rom Shot in Restaurant in Hungary

12 October 1996

At 3:00 AM on July 28, 1996, a twenty five-year-old Romani man was shot to death at the „Red Castle" Restaurant in Pilisvörösvár, near Budapest. According to witnesses, the man, a father of five named József Sárközi began to argue with one of the waiters. The waiter then called a security guard who started to push Mr. Sárközi. Approximately 8 to 10 other Roma intervened, and the tense situation was temporarily defused. A short time later, however, three back-up security guards arrived. One of them approached Mr. Sárközi and hit him on the head with the butt of a gun. When a crowd then gathered, one of the security guards shot in the air. Mr. Sárközi apparently tried to run from the scene and was shot in the head from behind. He later died of his injuries.

The police have arrested a suspect who is currently in custody awaiting arraignment. The investigation is still open.

(Roma Press Center, Budapest; ERRC)