Sebastian M. remains in remand custody until 2026 – court rejects defence motion
The District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski rejected a motion to release Sebastian M., accused of a fatal accident on the A1 motorway, from remand custody. The man will remain in isolation until 1 October 2026.
Court upholds remand custody for Sebastian M. – trial hearing set for September 2026
The District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski has rejected a defence motion to release Sebastian M. – a 35-year-old accused of causing a fatal accident on the A1 motorway in September 2023 – from remand custody. The man will remain in isolation as a precautionary measure until 1 October 2026, according to o2.pl.
According to the prosecution's findings, the BMW driven by M. was travelling at a speed of over 320 km/h and struck a Kia that was travelling correctly. As a result of the collision, the Kia caught fire. A family of three died – a mother, father, and their child, who was nearly five years old.
After the accident, Sebastian M. did not stop and did not report himself to the police. He drove to Germany, then travelled overland to Turkey, from where he flew to Dubai. For several months, Polish authorities were unable to bring him back to the country. Only a complicated extradition procedure involving diplomatic services made it possible for the man to return to Poland. He was taken into remand custody in May 2025. The trial before the District Court in Piotrków Trybunalski has been ongoing since September 2025.
Sebastian M.'s defence lawyer, Katarzyna Hebda, filed a motion to release him from remand custody, arguing, among other things, that her client has been in isolation for over a year and should answer charges whilst on bail. This motion was contested by prosecutor Aleksander Duda of the District Prosecutor's Office in Katowice, pointing out that M. was unwilling to voluntarily appear before the court, and the risk of him fleeing again remains very high.
The representative of the victims' family, Łukasz Kowalski, meanwhile recalled that an investigation is underway at the District Prosecutor's Office in Koszalin concerning a conversation that Sebastian M. conducted whilst in remand custody – which was first disclosed by the o2.pl editorial team. The recording suggests that an unidentified person attempted to secure the man's release by invoking influence within the Ministry of Justice.
The court shared the concerns of both the prosecution and the victims' family representative. Judge Renata Folkman noted that although proceedings could at this stage take place without the physical presence of the accused, there is a high risk that M. would not voluntarily appear for potential execution of a severe sentence.
For the alleged act, Sebastian M. faces up to 8 years' imprisonment. The next hearing has been scheduled for 17 September 2026 – the day after the third anniversary of the accident on the A1 motorway.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)