As we read on the website of gazetawrocławska.pl:

25 years in prison—that is the sentence handed down to Tomasz P. [...], who tried to kill his former partner with an axe. Exactly that sentence was handed down by the Legnica court, but after an appeal the court reduced it to 15 years in prison. The Prosecutor General disagreed with this, however. The Supreme Court overturned the ruling, granting the Prosecutor General’s cassation appeal. The case was sent back for reconsideration. The sentence: 25 years in prison.

Let us recall: in August 2012, the District Prosecutor’s Office in Legnica filed an indictment against Tomasz P. from Bytom, who on 3 December 2012 tried to kill his 32-year-old former partner.

The investigation established that Tomasz P. had been involved with the victim since 2009. Personal conflicts frequently arose in the relationship. From July 2011, the couple lived in Legnica. In September of the same year, Tomasz P. was placed in temporary custody in connection with an investigation conducted by the Katowice prosecutor’s office into a series of frauds committed by Tomasz P. while running a business in Katowice involving financial-market management and economic consulting (Tomasz P. has already been convicted with final effect for these acts).

While held in remand detention, the aforementioned man wrote numerous uncensored letters in which he threatened the victim with death. He also called the woman several times a month, demanding that she remain in a relationship with him and claiming that if she left, she would die.

While operating as a broker, when he was already experiencing financial problems, Tomasz P. bought a firearm without a permit in January 2010 and subsequently possessed two MAG 98 and Walther pistols, calibre 9 mm, as well as 18 rounds of ammunition for them.

The aforementioned man repeatedly displayed the pistols he possessed to clients in order to command their respect and instill fear. At the same time, in January 2010, Tomasz P. came into possession of two identity cards bearing the names of different people but his photograph, as well as a category B driving licence. He showed these documents to several clients in his office, claiming that they allowed him to check into accommodation under false details and that, thanks to them, no one would find him.

On 23 November 2012, the Katowice Regional Court lifted his detention after an indictment was filed against Tomasz P. for multimillion-zloty frauds against more than one hundred people. The same day, the man travelled to the victim in Legnica. For many days there, using psychological violence in the form of blackmail and intimidation and allowing no objection, he tried to persuade her that they should remain together.

The aforementioned man threatened the woman with suicide and with killing her. He held a knife to her abdomen and neck. Paralyzed with fear, the woman did not notify law-enforcement authorities.

On 26 November 2012, the accused took the victim to the area around Grodziec Castle, bringing a backpack containing a rope and an axe. There, he forced the woman to promise that they would get back together. After returning home, the victim hid from the accused. He nevertheless called her and threatened to kill her.

On 3 December 2012, the victim went to work. At around 8:00 a.m., Tomasz P. called her and asked about their future together. A few minutes later, he came to the office. Under the pretext of handing over keys, he asked the woman to go to the secretary’s office. After a brief conversation, he pulled an axe from his backpack and struck the victim several times in the head and arms, which she used to shield herself. Female employees exiting the lift noticed this. The disoriented attacker struck the woman one final time, driving the axe into her head, and then fled.

The victim was taken to hospital, where effective life-saving treatment was provided.

Tomasz P. was arrested on 4 December 2012 near the town of Blachownia, close to Częstochowa. He did not resist. He was placed in temporary custody.

The woman sustained injuries including a chopped wound to the head with fracture of the cranial bones and damage to the brain, as well as chopped wounds to the left forearm and both hands, with damage to the bones, muscles and tendons. The injuries caused the victim a severe, incurable and prolonged illness, as well as an illness that posed a real threat to her life.

When questioned as a suspect, Tomasz P. admitted only to possessing false documents. He did not admit guilt in relation to the attempted murder. He stated that he did not remember the circumstances of the incident. He also denied ever possessing firearms. He made no statement regarding the criminal threats.

He maintained his explanations before the court. Due to doubts about Tomasz P.’s mental health, he underwent psychiatric observation. Doctors found that the aforementioned man was sane. They nevertheless indicated that the accused had a psychopathic personality, as he showed a tendency to deceive and manipulate, shallow emotions, superficial charm, lack of guilt, lack of empathy, instrumental treatment of others, and reactivity to perceived disregard, insult or betrayal. Tomasz P. was also diagnosed with simulation of mental disorders following the incident. In relation to the attempted murder, the experts ruled out acting in an emotional state and emotional disorders related to stress, as well as mental disorders related to the use of psychotropic medication, which the aforementioned man had simulated during the investigation.

Tomasz P. has higher education and is a computer engineer. Before committing the crime, he had no criminal record. For the attempted murder and the remaining offences, he faced a sentence of between 8 and 15 years, 25 years, or even life imprisonment.

After the trial before the Legnica Regional Court, a judgment was handed down in the case on 17 November 2015. The court found Tomasz P. guilty of all the acts with which he had been charged. The aforementioned man received the following sentences:

for attempted murder—25 years’ imprisonment

for illegal possession of firearms—1 year and 6 months’ imprisonment

for preparation to use false documents—6 months’ imprisonment

for threats—1 year and 6 months’ imprisonment.

The court imposed an aggregate sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment. It also ruled that the accused could apply for conditional early release no sooner than after serving 20 years of the sentence and banned him from contacting or approaching the victim for 15 years. It additionally awarded the victim PLN 50,000 in compensation. The convicted man was ordered to cover the costs of the proceedings and pay nearly PLN 4,000 in legal-representation costs for the victim’s attorney, as well as a fee of PLN 600 in the case. The judgment, which was essentially consistent with the prosecutor’s requests, was considered fair. The ruling was not final.