A Polish court has sentenced Witold C. to 25 years and 6 months in prison for murdering his father by arson and years of abuse in Ostrołęka.
The District Court in Ostrołęka, Poland, has found Witold C. guilty of setting fire to his house, killing his 77-year-old father, Stefan C., and of years of physical and psychological abuse. The court handed down a total sentence of 25 years and 6 months in prison, along with mandatory addiction therapy.
The incident occurred on September 14, 2024, in Wolkowe. Witold C. was found to have intentionally started a fire in the lower part of a wooden house, aware that his father was sleeping upstairs. The fire completely destroyed the house, and the victim’s charred body was discovered by firefighters.
Investigations revealed that Witold C. had been physically and psychologically abusing his father from March 2021 until the day of the murder. The abuse often occurred while Witold C. was under the influence of alcohol and included verbal insults, physical attacks, and threats of murder and arson.
Witold C. was arrested shortly after the fire, at a fuel station in Myszyniec, and was held in temporary detention throughout the investigation and trial. Despite this, he never admitted to the crimes.
The District Court in Ostrołęka fully accepted the arguments presented by prosecutor Anna Drewnowska, finding Witold C. guilty on both counts of murder and abuse. The court’s decision includes a requirement for Witold C. to undergo addiction therapy.
