Key member of Czech ruling party shot dead at home

Roman Houska, an influential member of the ruling Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), was found shot dead at his villa Monday night, according to local media. Houska was believed to have been murdered at around 19:00 local time(1800 GMT) at his house on Kamenny vrch street in Chomutov, a town in the country's northwest. Houska was infamous for running over the leg of a police officer who tried to fine him for improper parking in 2003. He was also accused of blackmail in the 1990s, but the court case lapsed in 2005. Houska was strongly linked with former Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek. There was no evidence that the murder was politically motivated. The victim's partner, former regional leader Jana Vanhova, had so far declined to comment.