Polish attorney Katarzyna R. convicted of attempted murder, assault, and drunk driving, sentenced to 10.5 years in prison.
Prosecution Details
The District Prosecutor’s Office in Torun accused the lawyer from Slupsk of attempting to murder Mariusz K. On August 5, 2022, in Slupsk, she stabbed him twice in the neck and abdomen. She was also accused of causing minor injuries to Marcin K. Katarzyna R. faced trial for driving under the influence and insulting and assaulting two police officers who arrested her. Investigators failed to determine the motive.
Court of Appeal Decision
On Monday, the Gdansk Court of Appeal upheld the verdict in its essential part, correcting only a formal error regarding the legal basis for the therapy security measure. Judge SA Krzysztof Ciemnoczołowski emphasized the court found no basis to change the sentence length, neither to the detriment of the accused (as requested by the prosecutor) nor to her benefit (as requested by the defense). The court ruled the imposed sentences were not excessively harsh and were appropriately severe, being isolatory and multi-year.
Disturbed Personality and Treatment Need
The court reasoned in its justification that the accused is not a criminal with simple motives. “We are dealing with a disturbed personality, dependent on alcohol and psychoactive substances, so besides the sentence (…), the accused must simply be treated and subjected to therapy,” explained Judge Ciemnoczołowski. The court noted the case would have gone unnoticed if not for the accused’s status as attorney Katarzyna R. The evidence clearly showed she was the aggressor, not the victim.
The justification indicated the accused has aggressive tendencies after alcohol abuse. “It is a misfortune and a major problem for the accused that she is an addicted person. That she attempts therapy which later proves ineffective,” stated the judge. Stays of the accused in therapeutic institutions often resulted not only from substance abuse but also from aggressive behaviors, reflecting a certain life pattern of the attorney.
Final Verdict
In 2024, the court found Katarzyna R. guilty of the charged acts and sentenced her to a combined 10 years and 6 months imprisonment. The accused is to serve the sentence in a therapeutic system for individuals with personality disorders. Additionally, Katarzyna R. must undergo addiction therapy. The verdict is final.