Czech coalition seeks to make premeditated murder and other serious crimes non‑prescriptive

A group of coalition lawmakers from ANO, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motoristé party has introduced a constitutional amendment to remove the statute of limitations for premeditated murder and a range of other intentional killings, public‑danger offences and terrorist attacks. Under current Czech law, the limitation period for murder is thirty years, after which criminal responsibility expires. The proposal would also extend non‑prescriptive status to offences committed by minors and to corporate criminal liability.

A similar amendment was submitted by STAN deputy Barbora Urbanová, which would eliminate the limitation period for murder, rape and human‑trafficking offences. The initiative was launched in the Senate by deputy Jitka Seitlová and has been sent to committee review. Debate over the removal of limitation periods continues in both chambers of the Czech Parliament.