The Prosecutor’s Office has filed an indictment with the District Court in Jelenia Góra against 18-year-old Wojciech P., who was charged with murdering pedestrian Rafał K. and committing robbery using a dangerous instrument against three different people, creating an immediate risk of a disaster in land traffic endangering the lives and health of many people, as well as appropriating documents belonging to Vanessa P. and Katarzyna W.

The evidence shows that on January 28, 2016, at around 7:30 p.m., Wojciech P. was in Jelenia Góra on Kilińskiego Street. There he noticed Aneta S. getting into a Ford Focus passenger car. P. opened the front passenger-side door and got inside. Using a piece of glass, he forced S. to hand over PLN 110 and demanded that she drive him out of the city. Following his instructions, Aneta S. headed toward Zgorzelec. She then stopped the car near a railway viaduct on the road leading out of the city. Taking advantage of Wojciech P.’s momentary inattention, she got out. Wojciech P. then drove toward Zgorzelec.

The victim notified the police by telephone. The duty officer immediately relayed the report to police patrols in the city. Among those who received the information were officers from Police Station II in Jelenia Góra, who headed toward Goduszyn. There, they spotted the car stolen by Wojciech P. When the suspect saw them, he began to flee. The officers pursued him. After approximately 300 meters, a marked police car from the Traffic Division of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Jelenia Góra, equipped with a video recorder, joined the pursuit.

After driving through several streets, Wojciech P. turned toward the city center. Traveling along Wolności Street, he was driving at more than 100 km/h. As he approached the intersection with Wojska Polskiego Street, he drove onto a pedestrian crossing despite the red light and struck Rafał K., who was crossing there. The victim died at the scene. Wojciech P. made no evasive maneuver and did not stop. He continued fleeing. After turning onto Sudecka Street, where he drove against traffic, he cut off an MZK bus carrying passengers. Then, at the intersection of Sudecka and Wojska Polskiego streets, he collided with a properly traveling Skoda Octavia driven by Mateusz K. After abandoning his vehicle, he continued fleeing on foot. He was arrested by police officers.

A search of the above-mentioned person’s clothing revealed an identity card issued in the name of Venessa P., a citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany, and a bank card issued to Katarzyna W.

Wojciech P. was charged with murdering Rafał K. with conditional intent, creating an immediate risk of a disaster in land traffic, failing to obey traffic signals and performing dangerous maneuvers while fleeing from police officers, robbing Aneta S. using a dangerous instrument, and appropriating documents issued in the names of Vanessa P. and Katarzyna W.

The charges also included two robbery offenses likewise committed using a dangerous instrument. They took place on January 15 and 27 in Görlitz. The victims were Brigit S. and Magdalena M.

When questioned as a suspect, Wojciech P. modified his explanations and position several times. During his final questioning before the indictment was filed, he effectively admitted committing acts against Brigit S., Magdalena M., Aneta S. and Vanessa P.

On January 29, the court ordered the suspect’s pretrial detention, which was subsequently extended twice by decision of the District Court in Jelenia Góra. Experts determined that Wojciech P. was fully criminally responsible. The 18-year-old could now face life imprisonment.

Violetta Niziołek/ii