Murder in Kędzierzyn-Koźle: police had image of suspect two months earlier
19-year-old Jakub L. arrested four days after the death of Diana R. He had previously attacked a man with a hammer in Opole – police had footage of his face.
Suspect identified too late – investigators had footage in July
According to zero.pl, 19-year-old Jakub L. was arrested on 1 September, four days after the murder of 49-year-old Diana R. in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. On 28 August, the woman went for a walk with her dog to a forest complex in the Żabieniec district. Her body was found by a passer-by. Investigators determined that she was struck several times with a hammer to the head and subsequently wounded with a knife.
The arrest came after adult siblings walking along the river noticed a young man with a bag and notified police. A patrol stopped Jakub L. He had items on him that could be connected to the murder. The teenager later confessed to committing the crime.
Earlier attack in Opole went without consequences
The matter takes on a different dimension when earlier events are taken into account. On the night of 4 to 5 July, Jakub L. attacked a randomly encountered man in Opole – he struck him with a hammer to the head and face. The victim was admitted to hospital in critical condition and remains in a serious state.
The key fact is that investigators handling the July assault had CCTV footage showing the attacker's face. Despite this, for nearly two months there was no arrest. Jakub L. remained free until Diana R.'s death.
Former police officer: "This does not reflect well on the police"
Wirtualna Polska, whose material is cited by zero.pl, asked for an assessment of the authorities' actions from Dariusz Nowak, a former criminal investigator. Nowak neither described the case as a success nor as a disgrace to the police. In his view, a full assessment will only be possible once the details of investigative actions following the July attack are known.
"The fact that this man nearly killed someone two months earlier and had not been caught by then certainly does not reflect well on the police," the former officer said.
Nowak also drew attention to the specifics of the suspect's behaviour. After the murder, Jakub L. did not hide, did not attempt to lie low during the manhunt, and still had on him items that could be linked to the crime. According to the former police officer, the arrest could have been a combination of detective work and chance – residents noticed the suspiciously behaving man and informed the authorities.
"Police sometimes simply have to get lucky. This time they got it quickly," Nowak concluded.
Custody and charges, experts to assess criminal responsibility
On Thursday, a court in Opole imposed a three-month remand in custody on the 19-year-old. Jakub L. was charged with murder with particular cruelty and attempted murder. The charges against him carry a sentence of between 15 years' imprisonment and life imprisonment.
Investigators determined that both victims were chosen at random – the suspect claims he did not know them. It is also known that he had previously received psychiatric treatment. Psychiatric experts are to determine whether he was of sound mind when both acts were committed.
Source: Google News PL — Crime (pl)