A Budapest courtroom closely watching the death of an American tourist will now have to wait: the Hungarian judge overseeing the manslaughter case against an Irish man has postponed the proceedings until 7 July.
The most recent hearing was held today at the Metropolitan Court of Budapest.
Mackenzie Michalski, a 31-year-old nurse from the United States, was visiting Budapest when she disappeared on 4 November 2024.
Police detained a 38-year-old Irish male suspect three days later.
Under Hungarian law, the accused Irish man cannot be identified. He has spent the past 19 months in police custody, beginning with a 12-month investigation by authorities into the circumstances and cause of Ms Michalski’s death.
In November, Budapest’s Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office filed a manslaughter charge against him. The offence is described in Hungarian law as ‘basic homicide’, indicating prosecutors do not allege premeditation.
The trial opened in April this year.
The accused continues to argue that Ms Michalski died in an accident.
Today’s session had been expected to feature closing arguments from both sides. Instead, only the prosecution delivered its closing address.
Defence counsel Dr György Magyar asked the court to allow him to present his closing argument at the next hearing.
Judge Dr Fedér Szabolcs then brought the proceedings to an early close and scheduled the next court date for 7 July.
A verdict is expected on 7 July.
Ms Michalski’s parents and brother travelled from the United States to attend the hearing today.
The indictment states that on the evening of 4 November 2024 the defendant met Ms Michalski in a Budapest nightclub.
Prosecutors allege the two drank at a bar and danced before going to the man’s rented apartment. There, according to the indictment, the accused assaulted and strangled her during sexual intercourse.
After her death, the accused told police he cleaned the apartment and later bought a large suitcase, which he used to transport Ms Michalski’s body, according to the account presented to investigators.
He then rented a car and drove the suitcase to a wooded location near Lake Balaton — about a two-hour drive south-west of Budapest — where he hid her body.
In closing submissions, prosecution lawyer Dr Márta Daróci argued Ms Michalski’s death amounted to ‘dolus eventualis’, a concept used to describe indirect intent where a person foresees the likely consequences of their actions.
Dr Daróci urged the court to impose a prison term of more than 10 years.
In Hungary, manslaughter carries a potential sentence of five to 15 years in prison.
During today’s hearing, defence lawyer Dr György asked the court to order a psychological assessment of the deceased victim, a request the judge rejected.
The court has also refused defence applications for bail, both during pre-trial proceedings and throughout the trial.
