UPDATE: The murder of northern Czech regional politician Roman Houska last November was not politically motivated and it was not a contract killing, police have said. “It was an accidental encounter that escalated into an argument,” said Usti nad Labem police deputy chief Bohumil Kotas.

Local police arrested a suspect yesterday, who confessed to murdering Houska. The suspect, a middle-aged man from the Teplice area, has been investigated since January, when police established a link between him and an electroshock weapon found next to Houska's body, said Kotas.

Aktualne.cz has learned that the suspect is a former soldier.

The original story from Thursday, March 13:

Usti nad Labem - Czech police have confirmed they have arrested today the man who allegedly murdered regional Social Democrat (CSSD) politician Roman Houska last year in November. The man has been charged and faces from 10 to 18 years in prison. Investigators want him to be put into custody.

Regional politician murdered in northern Czech Republic

The suspect has confessed to murdering the politician, a source informed about the investigation told Aktualne.cz.

“The arrested man was charged with the crime of murder on Thursday in afternoon hours,” said Usti nad Labem police spokeswoman Sarka Polackova.

This dramatic development in the Houska murder case probably took place very quickly, in a matter of hours. As recently as on Wednesday, March 12, state prosecutor Vladimir Jan who is overseeing the case told Aktualne.cz that no new facts had been discovered.

Roman Houska was shot dead on November 18, 2013, in the northern Czech city of Chomutov in front of his house's garage. Houska's body was discovered by entrepreneur Vlastimil Rindos who had scheduled a meeting with the politician.

Houska lived with his life partner, Usti nad Labem Region deputy governor Jana Vanhova, a fellow CSSD member.

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