Experts have determined that Mieszko R., who committed a brutal axe attack at Warsaw University in May 2025, will not face prison due to severe mental illness.
Mieszko R.’s Axe Attack on UW Campus – Course of Tragic Events
The brutal axe attack by Mieszko R. on the university campus took place on May 7, 2025, near the Auditorium Maximum on the main campus of Warsaw University. The 22-year-old law student, son of a lawyer and academic teacher from Pomerania, attacked a 53-year-old female security guard who was finishing her shift and locking the building.
A 39-year-old employee of the Warsaw University Security rushed to help the victim. The woman died at the scene due to numerous and extremely brutal injuries inflicted with an axe. The intervening man was injured but survived the attack and was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
Murder with Particular Cruelty – What Charges Did Mieszko R. Face?
Mieszko R. was apprehended immediately after the incident. The prosecutor’s office brought three serious charges against him: murder with particular cruelty, attempted murder, and desecration of a corpse.
Mieszko R. was placed in temporary detention, which in August 2025 was extended for another six months – until mid-February 2026. Due to doubts about the suspect’s mental health, the court decided to conduct a long-term psychiatric observation.
200 Pages of Expert Opinion: Was Mieszko R. Mentally Competent?
The examinations took place at the psychiatric hospital in Jarosław in Subcarpathia. According to media reports, the preparation of the opinion was postponed several times because the 22-year-old had never previously received psychiatric treatment, and his condition required a long and in-depth diagnosis.
The final document is over 200 pages long and contains clear conclusions regarding the perpetrator’s mental competence at the time of the crime. After the observation, Mieszko R. returned to detention in Radom.
Why Won’t Mieszko R. Face Criminal Liability?
According to the findings, Mieszko R. suffers from severe, permanent mental illness. At the time of the attack, he was in a state of psychosis, meaning he was unable to recognize the significance of his actions or to control his behavior.
In practice, this means that Mieszko R. will not face criminal liability as such, and the court proceedings to convict him for the crime will not take place at all. The man formally faced life imprisonment, but in light of the psychiatrists’ opinions, such a sentence cannot be imposed.
Isolation in Gostynin – What’s Next for Mieszko R., the Warsaw University Attacker?
However, the psychiatric experts emphasized that leaving Mieszko R. at large would pose a serious threat to public safety. The opinion contained a clear recommendation for long-term isolation in hospital conditions.
Experts also indicated that in the future, consideration should be given to placing the man in the National Centre for the Prevention of Dissocial Behaviors in Gostynin – a facility for individuals posing a particular risk to society.
Security Measures for Mieszko R. – What Are Investigators Planning?
The prosecutor’s office is currently analyzing further legal steps to ensure the application of appropriate security measures. The brutal murder at Warsaw University shocked the public and reopened the discussion about safety on university campuses and the system’s response to severe mental disorders.
