Seven years after 17-year-old Fabian Zydor went missing in Tarnowa, a Konin court has convicted three men of his kidnapping and murder, though the victim’s remains have never been recovered.
The Abduction and Murder
Fabian Zydor disappeared on the night of October 30–31, 2016, in Tarnowa. It took seven years for authorities to arrest Łukasz B., Jan K., and Radosław M. for the crime.
The court determined that the accused abducted Fabian, hooded him, and transported him to the Warta River in Pyzdry. There, he was beaten, and Radosław M. allegedly stood on the victim’s head before the men wrapped his body in tarpaulin and threw it into the river.
Crucial Witness Testimony
Judge Karol Skocki stated that the verdict relied heavily on the testimony of a female eyewitness. Despite initial claims of memory loss, the witness eventually provided consistent and credible accounts of the events, which a psychologist deemed free of manipulation.
Sentencing and Motive
The court ruled that the motive was a drug debt. Radosław M., deemed the most demoralized, received the harshest assessment and will be eligible for parole only after serving 20 years.
The court rejected the prosecution’s request for life imprisonment, citing the potential for future rehabilitation. The defendants, all of whom have previous convictions for drug-related extortion, maintained their innocence in court.
Legal Disputes and Appeals
Defense attorney Sławomir Kubat labeled the verdict a failure of justice, criticizing the reliance on a single witness. Conversely, prosecutor Ireneusz Zięba pointed to supplementary evidence, including controlled conversation recordings and surveillance footage.
The ruling is not final, and both parties may appeal to the Court of Appeal in Poznań.
