Psychiatrist Petr Bรฉm has emphasized the critical importance of taking allegationsโ of abuse made by individuals with intellectual โdisabilities seriously, following an examination of Lukรกลก โBertรญk, a man convicted of severely abusing a young girl.
bertรญk, โฃcurrently serving โa 14-year sentence, underwent a psychiatric evaluation โขat the request of his defense team to determine if โฃhis intellectual capacity impacted his understanding of the abuse.Bรฉm’sโ assessment, detailed inโ a report submitted to theโข court, โconcluded that whileโค Bertรญk โคexhibits limitations in cognitive function, โhe possessed the capacity to understand theโฃ natureโ and consequences of his actions. The psychiatrist stressed that Bertรญk’s statements regarding the abuse, even if possibly influenced by his cognitive state, should notโ be โdismissed. “Words about abuse must be taken seriously,” Bรฉm โstated, highlighting the vulnerability of victims and the need for thorough investigation, irrespective of the perpetrator’s intellectual abilities.
The case gained renewed attention following reporting by the Czech news outlet List of News (“Ve stรญnu” – in the Shadows), which focuses on investigations into areas often overlooked by mainstream media. The reporting team, lead by Jiลรญ Kubรญk with direction, sound, and editing by Zdenฤk Chaloupka, and โeditors โคJana miฤovรก and Jiลรญ โMarek, investigated the circumstances surrounding Bertรญk’s conviction and the subsequent psychiatric evaluation. Sound design was provided by David Kaiser.
The List โฃof News โteamโ encourages readers to submit observations, comments, and ideas for future investigations to vestinu@sz.cz.