Court acquits three people in forest murder case near Ostrołęka
The Appellate Court in Białystok has acquitted three people accused of the 2015 murder of a 31-year-old man. A fourth defendant's conviction was set aside and the case remitted for reconsideration.
Acquittals following evidence review
The Appellate Court in Białystok has acquitted three people accused in the murder of a 31-year-old resident of Ostrów Mazowiecka — according to wawa.info. The incident occurred in September 2015 in a forest on the outskirts of the town. The victim was killed by gunshot wounds to the head from a pistol.
The crime was connected to illegal arms dealing. At first instance, the District Court in Ostrołęka sentenced four defendants to prison sentences ranging from two to fifteen years. Two of them received the most severe sentences: fifteen and nine years respectively.
The appellate court found that three of the four defendants were not at the scene at the time the murder was committed. It fully acquitted them. In the case of the fourth man, the court set aside a two-year prison sentence covering the charge of tampering with evidence. It remitted the case regarding the murder charge to the first instance court for reconsideration.
The proceedings in the matter lasted years. The prosecution filed a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court, which quashed the earlier ruling in its entirety. Following the renewed appellate proceedings and supplementation of the evidence, the court issued a new judgment.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)