HUNTER: Bringing Home Accused Millennial Killers Bonnie and Clyde

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Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li were completely oblivious.

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It was a beautiful Saturday evening in Budapest’s 6th district – also known as Terezvaros – a trendy neighborhood filled with clubs, restaurants, entertainment and lots of young people.

Karafa and Li probably didn’t notice that they were being watched by Hungarian Federal Police bounty hunters.

After all, both are addicted to social media. Maybe they were posing for one of their endless selfies.

Perhaps after nearly four months on the run, Millennials Bonnie and Clyde felt right at home. Cops said they had already enjoyed the sights of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

But on Saturday, the photophile duo were in the streets of the 6th arrondissement when their game of cat and mouse abruptly ended.

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Sources in Hungary told the Toronto Sun that they had just left their residence – believed to be an Airbnb – when they were surrounded by “bounty hunters”.

Karafa and Li were wanted in the first degree murder of Tyler Pratt, 39, on February 28. The BC man was shot in a remote industrial area of ​​Stoney Creek. His companion was also shot and is still recovering.

And then, within 24 hours, the “influencer” and the rich kid fled. Czech republic. Slovakia. And finally, Budapest and the terminus.

Dr. Christopher Jano has practiced international criminal law in Budapest for the past 25 years. He is originally from Toronto and grew up in Don Mills, North York and Rosedale.

Jano told the Sun that life for Karafa and Li is now 23 hours a day in their cells in a Hungarian prison.

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“Is this the Bangkok Hilton?” No,” Jano said, referring to Thailand’s infamous prison. “They are only allowed out of their cells for one hour a day. The prison itself follows all EU rules.

He added: “But for young, wealthy, hip kids, the hardest part will be being isolated from the world. No Facebook, no cell phone, no social media.

The University of Western Ontario graduate said bringing social media-loving accused killers home to face the justice system should be a simple matter.

Hungary has similar murder laws to Canada, Jano said.

“The only exception would be if the charges were politically motivated [like in China or North Korea] or if there was a chance that the person would be executed,” he said.

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Jano said if the two men waived extradition, they would likely be back in Canada within three weeks. If they fight him, giving them the boot will take longer.

“COVID has made things more complicated,” he noted, adding that Hungary has an extradition treaty.

In Hungary, extradition is a two-part process – the judiciary assesses the evidence and then the public prosecutor signs off, he said.

Jano remains puzzled as to why Karafa and Li traveled to Hungary in the first place. Because Karafa is a dual Slovak-Canadian citizen, courts there may have granted the couple a more sympathetic hearing.

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“He should have stayed in Slovakia. He would be in a much better position,” Jano said.

Ultimately, the only place the social media-loving couple could have found safety was off the grid, he said. Being on the run and hiding from the cops is exhausting and lonely.

The pair ran the risk of being spotted in the hard party section of Budapest where they were arrested and where there is no last call – ever. The area attracts drinkers from all over Europe and the rest of the world.

Jano compared it to Toronto’s entertainment district, but open 24 hours a day.

“Be careful,” Jano said, pondering the choice of the Hungarian capital for the couple, “Budapest is a pretty cool town.

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