They raced through the city and killed two pedestrians on a crossing. Verdicts have been handed down

We return to the widely reported case. As Radio Wrocław reports:

The court ruled that both accused men were guilty of the acts they had been charged with. Łukasz O. was sentenced to eight years in prison; he was also banned from driving for 10 years. Oskar L., meanwhile, received a sentence of 1.5 years in prison and will also be unable to drive for three years.

The prosecutor had sought 25-year prison sentences for both defendants.

Let us recall. In October 2019, we reported that the District Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra had brought an indictment before the local Regional Court against two men who, on the evening of October 27, 2018, caused the deaths of two pedestrians while taking part in a street race.

Investigators reported at the time:

The drivers of passenger cars took part in an illegal street race through Jelenia Góra, travelling—as an expert’s opinion established—at speeds of 160 to 180 kilometres per hour, from the direction of the city centre toward Wrocław.

On the way, the drivers passed three intersections and six pedestrian crossings, exceeding the speed limit by more than 100 kilometres per hour.

When the perpetrators were approaching a marked and illuminated pedestrian crossing, two people were on it: a 47-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man, who were crossing the road properly.

The driver of a Seat, who at that moment was overtaking the other race participant by several metres, hit the victims as he drove onto the pedestrian crossing. They died at the scene.

The Seat driver was Łukasz O., while Oskar L. was behind the wheel of the Volkswagen.

The prosecution then accused both drivers of—acting jointly and in concert, and “taking part in an illegal car race, foreseeing the possibility of depriving the victims of their lives and accepting that possibility”—committing murder with conditional intent. In addition, it accused them of creating a direct risk of a disaster in land traffic through their actions.

Neither O. nor L. admitted guilt.

The Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Jelenia Góra reported a year and a half ago:

The defendants had not previously been convicted of crimes, although they had committed traffic offences, including speeding and causing collisions.

A meticulous investigation was conducted. Numerous witnesses were questioned, and the scene and vehicles were inspected. Surveillance recordings were secured and numerous expert opinions were obtained, including in forensic medicine, road-accident reconstruction, vehicle engineering and accident biomechanics. A procedural experiment was also conducted at the scene.

Both vehicles involved in the incident underwent detailed examinations. Among other things, experts found that the parameters of the powertrain control units had been modified in a similar manner, significantly increasing their power and, consequently, their acceleration and speed.

According to the experts, without simultaneously redesigning and adapting the other components, including the braking system and wheels, such vehicles became dangerous. Other modifications were also found in the cars.

The investigation also established that both defendants attended meetings organised by an informal group of motoring enthusiasts in Jelenia Góra. A mobile phone secured from one of them contained, among other things, a recording showing another dangerous car journey.

The investigation found that neither the external conditions nor the victims’ conduct contributed in any way to the incident, and that the defendants made no manoeuvres whatsoever to avoid it.

What do you think? We invite you to join the discussion.