Court convicts 46 members of Chorzów football fan group
A final court verdict has been reached in Chorzów in the case of the "Psycho Fans" gang. In total, 46 members of the group have been sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 2 to 15 years for murders, assaults and drug trafficking.
Court convicts 46 members of Chorzów football fan group
The Regional Court in Katowice has announced a final verdict in the high-profile case of a criminal group linked to supporters of Ruch Chorzów. In total, 46 people have been convicted to prison sentences ranging from two to fifteen years.
Members of the organised group "Psycho Fans" were responsible for a series of serious crimes committed across Silesia. Their activities included murders, burglaries, attacks with machetes, debt collection and the trafficking of narcotic substances.
One of the most brutal acts was the murder of Dariusz Pastor, who was linked to a rival football fan group GKS Katowice. The man was surrounded by ten assailants. When he fell to the ground, he was beaten with batons and fists. The violence culminated with one of the assailants jumping on the victim's head. Pastor died from the injuries he sustained.
The court of second instance upheld the original verdict in essence. In the case of the main perpetrator of Pastor's murder, the sentence was increased to 15 years in prison.
The "Psycho Fans" group extended far beyond stadium clashes. Its activities encompassed the whole Silesian underworld. Gang members did not hesitate to break into their own club's headquarters in order to rob it. Their influence also extended to cooperation with Wisła Kraków supporters.
Key to proving the guilt of the accused were the testimonies of two key witnesses. Young men who, after their arrest, decided to cooperate with law enforcement authorities, provided extensive testimony incriminating their associates. They currently remain under protection by the authorities, as there is a risk of retaliation from the remaining members of the group.
The court ruled that gang members operated within an organised criminal structure, which increased the severity of sentences.
The information was provided by the website 444.hu.
Source: 444