A 28-year-old resident of Głogów, Sławomir R., who had left prison the previous day, was charged with committing the crime. Three of his associates will also be held responsible for failing to help the victim. The men saw that the bunker was on fire, but fled without attempting to help the injured man.

He set him on fire because he had not returned his watch

The incident occurred on June 21, 2014, the day after R. was released from prison after serving a four-month sentence for theft. The accused had been drinking alcohol with friends since morning. At one point, he decided to visit an acquaintance living in the bunker, known as Rysiek. Before his imprisonment, he had left his watch and a saw guide with him. Other homeless men went with the accused: 32-year-old Łukasz B., 46-year-old Janusz M., and 36-year-old Konrad P.

Sławomir R. entered the bunker with Łukasz B. When it turned out that Rysiek—who had paralysis in his legs and moved around on crutches—no longer had R.’s belongings, the accused pushed him and knocked him to the ground. Then, swearing profusely, he grabbed a crutch and began beating the victim all over his body.

Afterward, he and Łukasz B. searched the bunker. R. found a canister of gasoline. He poured it over the victim, who was lying beside the bed. He also spilled gasoline throughout the room. Seeing what his associate was doing, Łukasz B. fled the bunker. Sławomir R., meanwhile, poured the remaining gasoline across the entrance threshold and threw the canister inside. After hesitating briefly, he ignited the fuel with a lighter.

The intense burning of the gasoline, followed moments later by the canister’s explosion, created a shock wave that caused the bunker door to slam shut. Neither R. nor his associates helped Rysiek.

Another man who noticed the burning bunker began calling for help. A person riding past on a bicycle responded to his calls. He entered the burning room, kicking the door open. In the smoke-filled room, following the victim’s cries, he found him and pulled him outside. He also notified the emergency services.

The victim was transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Nowa Sól. Despite receiving prompt medical assistance, he died in the hospital the following day.

R. was charged with murder committed with particular cruelty. He committed the crime while a recidivist, having previously been convicted of theft, burglary, and robbery.

The man confessed to the crime. However, he denied dousing Rysiek with gasoline. A court in Głogów remanded R. in custody for three months. The accused could face life imprisonment.

Łukasz B., Janusz M., and Konrad P. were charged with failing to help the injured man. B. and M. face up to three years in prison, while P.—as a repeat recidivist—could receive up to four and a half years in prison.

The case will be heard by the court in Legnica.

Legnica District Prosecutor’s Office/ii