The appellate court in Katowice has delivered a final ruling in the major trial of the 46-member Psycho Fans gang, upholding the integrity of the proceedings while adjusting several individual sentences.
Verdict on Psycho Fans Gang
On Monday, the court issued a final judgment in the main trial of the Psycho Fans group. The case involved 46 defendants facing 110 charges, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, assault, robbery, and drug trafficking.
The Katowice District Court had previously handed down sentences ranging from suspended prison terms to 15 years in custody.
Court Findings and Credibility
The appellate court rejected defense claims of procedural bias, confirming that the initial trial was conducted objectively and upheld the defendants’ right to a fair defense. The court also affirmed the credibility of the key witnesses—former gang members who cooperated with prosecutors.
While the core findings remain, the court adjusted several sentences, acquitted some defendants of specific charges, and remanded a limited number of segments for retrial.
Sentence Adjustments
Maciej M., identified as the group’s leader, received a slightly reduced sentence of 11.5 years in prison, down from the original 15 years. Conversely, Kajetan B., convicted of fatal assault against a Górnik Zabrze fan, saw his sentence increased from 11 to 15 years.
Legal Context and Timeline
The appellate proceedings began in March, with the prosecution seeking harsher penalties while the defense argued for acquittals or sentence reductions. The initial trial took place between 2019 and 2023 under the supervision of the Silesian Department of the National Prosecutor’s Office.