A man has pleaded guilty to raping an 18-year old woman in Beeston earlier this year.

Zdenko Turtak, who was extradited from Slovakia in July after officers from the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team issued an arrest warrant and tracked him down, has appeared at Leeds Crown Court via video link from Wakefield Prison. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and rape, but pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder.

Turtak, 21, pulled the victim from a bus stop on Beeston Road on 6th March this year, bludgeoned her with a stone and raped her. The investigation was initially launched by police as a rape enquiry but was later upgraded to the charge of attempted murder due to the severity of the woman’s injuries, which included a fractured skull. The case involved the collection of saliva samples from hundreds of men in the Beeston area and has attracted significant media attention, with BBC One’s Crimewatch programme airing a reconstruction of the incident.

While Turtak will face sentencing for rape and intent to cause grievous bodily harm, it is currently unclear if he will be put on trial for attempted murder as Judge Peter Collier, QC, the Recorder of Leeds, adjourned the case when Prosecutor Simon Waley requested for time for the Crime Prosecution Service to consider Turtak’s pleas.

It is now expected that a decision will be made next week as to whether Turtak will face a trial on the attempted murder charge. Turtak has been told that he will next appear in court on 8th October if a trial is to be held. However, if the CPS decide to accept Turtak’s pleas he will next appear before the court on October 19th where he will be sentenced.

 

Elli Pugh

Image courtesy of West Yorkshire police.