Mława: Detention extended for teenager accused of Mai's murder
A court in Mława has extended pre-trial detention for a 17-year-old boy accused of murdering 16-year-old Mai. The defence has announced an appeal against the decision.
Court decision on detention extension
The District Court in Mława issued a ruling on Thursday, 15 January, extending pre-trial detention for Bartosz G., accused of murdering 16-year-old Mai. The hearing lasted approximately fifteen minutes. The teenager will remain in pre-trial detention in Płock for several more months, awaiting the start of trial proceedings — reports bydgoszcz.tvp.pl.
The defence lawyer, Paweł Aranowski, has announced plans to fight the imposed precautionary measure. "We have the right to appeal this ruling and we intend to use it," the lawyer stated. His defence strategy is aimed at overturning the detention order and replacing it with a milder solution, including possible police supervision instead of detention in custody.
Modified charge and interrogation
On Thursday, 25 December 2025, following the suspect's extradition from Greece, a briefing was held at the District Prosecutor's Office in Płock. The prosecutor's spokesman informed that a "slightly modified charge" of murder with particular cruelty had been presented — the legal classification remained unchanged. Bartosz G. did not confess to the act and refused to provide statements during interrogation.
After the procedural actions were completed, a convoy transported the suspect to the District Court in Mława, where pre-trial detention was imposed for a period of one month, with the possibility of further requests for extension.
Course of investigation
According to findings, on 23 April 2025, Mai met with her acquaintance who was one year older. The following day, 24 April, her disappearance was reported. The girl's body was found on 1 May in bushes near a facility connected to the suspect's family. A preliminary autopsy revealed extensive head injuries as the cause of death.
In early May, Bartosz G. was arrested in the Greek city of Katerini during a school exchange. A Greek court executed a European Arrest Warrant. Following an appeal by the defence, the decision on extradition to Poland was upheld. Transport to Poland was carried out between 23–25 December; charges were filed against him in Płock on the same day.
Legal classification and applicable penalties
The charge encompasses Article 148 § 2 point 1 of the Criminal Code — murder with particular cruelty, one of the most serious crimes. The punishment is not less than 15 years imprisonment, 25 years, or life imprisonment. Since Bartosz G. was a minor at the time of the incident, a life sentence cannot be imposed. In prosecutor statements, sentences in the range of 15–30 years have been indicated.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)