Arson attack on shelter in Morąg: two homeless people dead, indictment filed in Elbląg
Two teenagers stood before court for setting fire to a shelter with Molotov cocktails in Morąg. A 72-year-old woman and her 52-year-old son were killed.
Murder charge following shelter fire in Morąg
An indictment has been filed with the District Court in Elbląg against two young men who in January 2024 set fire to a shelter on an allotment garden plot in Morąg (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship). According to RMF24, a 72-year-old woman and her 52-year-old son – both homeless and living in the shelter – died in the fire.
The accused are Damian L., who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, and Filip R. – who was 16 at the time. The prosecution established that both acted for amusement and out of contempt for homeless people.
Molotov cocktails and failure to help
According to investigators' findings, the perpetrators set fire to the shelter using Molotov cocktails, knowing that its residents were inside. When the fire engulfed the entire structure, neither of them attempted to provide assistance nor called the emergency number. The fire was noticed by a passer-by, who called the fire brigade – said Ewa Ziębka, spokesperson for the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Elbląg. Both victims were taken to hospital with severe burns and died after several days.
Weeks of harassment before the tragedy
The prosecution established that before the arson occurred, the homeless people were harassed for around two weeks by a group of teenagers, including Damian L. and Filip R. On multiple occasions, at various times of day and late evening, they would visit them, knock on windows, shower them with vulgar insults, throw stones at the shelter and burning firecrackers. One firecracker was thrown into a pipe outside the building, damaging it and making it impossible for the victims to use the stove. The perpetrators also smashed a window – said the spokesperson for the Elbląg prosecutor's office.
Charges and the accused's position
The prosecutor charged Damian L. and Filip R. with the murder of two people motivated by reasons deserving particular condemnation. Damian L. was additionally charged with earlier persistent harassment of both victims. Damian L. denied guilt and refused to provide a statement. Filip R. partially admitted guilt and provided a statement.
Murder carries a sentence of no less than 15 years in prison. Since both accused had not reached the age of 18 at the time of committing the act, the court cannot impose a life sentence on them.
The prosecution excluded from the case and transferred to the family and juvenile department of the court in Ostródź material relating to harassment of the homeless by Filip R. and four other identified juvenile perpetrators.
Source: RMF24