Prosecutor’s decision to close probe into death of PiS official Barbara Skrzypek challenged by family.
Prosecutor’s Office: Heart Attack the Cause of Death
The investigation into the death of Barbara Skrzypek was terminated at the beginning of December. According to the prosecutor’s office, “An extensive evidentiary material has been gathered, which includes testimonies from many witnesses, expert opinions from forensic medicine and toxicology, surveillance recordings and their examination, telecommunication data and their analysis.” The report emphasized that “Barbara Skrzypek died of a heart attack, which most likely occurred no more than a few hours before her death, that is, three days after the interrogation.” The heart attack was determined to be the result of “pathological changes in the cardiovascular system, i.e., very advanced atherosclerosis,” not stress from the interrogation.
Appeal Filed Against Case Closure
The decision to terminate the investigation is not final. An appeal has been filed on behalf of the family members and has been referred to the Regional Court for Warsaw-Mokotów, according to prosecutor Karolina Staros from the Warsaw-Praga Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
Interrogation Conducted with “All Standards”
Barbara Skrzypek died on March 15 of last year at the age of 66. Three days before her death, she was interrogated as a witness in an investigation concerning the uncompleted construction of two skyscrapers on a plot belonging to the Srebrna company. Prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek stated that “The interrogation of Ms. Barbara Skrzypek took place with the observance of all high standards of procedural activities.” The Warsaw Regional Prosecutor’s Office added that “The interrogation took place in a very cultured atmosphere, none of the participating persons submitted any comments, reservations or requests for correction of the protocol.”
PiS Leader: She Was Affected by Interrogation
PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński commented on the case, saying “Barbara was summoned for an interrogation by Ms. Wrzosek. She was very upset about this interrogation. A lawyer was not allowed to attend this interrogation, but there were no grounds to prohibit it. This was exploited. The role of Ms. Wrzosek in this interrogation was important and tragic.” Kaczyński also mentioned speaking with Skrzypek after the interrogation, noting she seemed distressed and said she would only speak with him on Monday.
