Marian Rafael, convicted life prisoner, dies in Czech prison

Marian Rafael, one of the most brutal murderers in Czech history, has died at the age of 59 in the Plzeň-Bory prison. According to reports, his death occurred on Monday due to natural causes, though the Prison Service has not yet issued an official statement.

Rafael was serving a life sentence for a 2008 crime committed at a psychiatric hospital in Kosmonosy. He was convicted of brutally burning a fellow patient alive inside a plastic waste container to steal personal belongings, including a watch, a wallet, and a jacket. Court records indicate the victim suffered burns to 80 percent of his body before dying of smoke inhalation.

In addition to the murder, Rafael had been convicted of the rape of a 13-year-old girl and various robberies. Throughout his legal proceedings, he denied his guilt and attempted to appeal his sentence by claiming his mental state had not been properly assessed, though the Supreme Court rejected his appeals.