In Zamość, Poland, a murder suspect escaped after two prison guards were found negligent, leading to suspended sentences, while trials continue for a third pair of officers.
Suspended Prison Term
Polish court in Zamość sentenced two prison officers to a one‑year suspended prison term over a three‑year period, alongside a fine and a four‑year prohibition from their profession. The verdict was based on the prosecutor’s request following the officers’ voluntary acceptance of the sentence. According to the district prosecutor’s spokesperson, guards slept during the night of the escape. Investigators found that the men left the suspect unsupervised and used private mobile phones.
Trial of Two Further Guards
The indictment covers four officers. Two pleaded guilty and accepted a sentence voluntarily; the other two have been in trial since 4 November. Prosecutors allege, among other things, that the handcuffs were tied too loosely, allowing removal. They denied guilt during the investigation. The next hearing will take place on 16 December, with potential sentences of up to three years. Surveillance footage is the key evidence.
How Bartłomiej B. Escaped
Bartłomiej B., accused of murdering his brother and father, was sent to a court‑psychiatric observation unit at Radecznica Hospital in October 2024. On the night of 6–7 October, he sought to exploit guard inattentiveness, remove his handcuffs, and flee through a broken bar in a bathroom window. He remained hidden for ten days. Police located him in the Subcarpathian region, where he was arrested. In September 2025, he was definitively sentenced to thirty years in prison. Earlier, in July 2024, he killed his father and brother with an axe, citing a family conflict; he pleaded guilty. After the escape, the prison service chief in the Lublin region lost his position.
