Wojciech Kasprzyk revealed shocking information: he has evidence that officers of the County Police Headquarters in Lubin stole or deliberately concealed the records of one witness’s testimony.
– There was interference in the investigation – attorney Wojciech Kasprzyk informed the press. – I already mentioned at the first conference in Lubin that there could be an attempt to interfere on the part of police officers. Ladies and gentlemen, we have filed a notification of a suspected crime. We have information and evidence that officers of the County Police Headquarters in Lubin stole or deliberately concealed the records of one witness’s testimony. What is more, the officers also used other people to destroy the records and the collected evidence in the form of objects. Therefore, at this point I appeal to everyone who was questioned by officers of the County Police Headquarters in Lubin to contact us without fail, to tell us whether they gave any testimony and whether they submitted any evidence. At this stage, we dare to claim that the police are covering up this case. I am using rather strong words here, but based on the evidence we already know, we know that such materials were submitted. The question is why these materials are not in the files of the Łódź prosecutor’s office, and whether the Legnica Regional Prosecutor’s Office? The Lubin District Prosecutor’s Office also knew about interrogations that are not in the case files – attorney Kasprzyk said at the press conference.
The first interference occurred at the evidence-gathering stage
This is not the end of the accusations against the officers from Lubin presented at the press conference held at Wojciech Kasprzyk’s Law Office.
– We have information on this matter and evidence confirming it, collected in the files of the Łódź Regional Prosecutor’s Office, showing that police officers shared and reviewed investigation documents among themselves. It is a scandal that these officers have still not been suspended from their duties. It cannot and must not be the case that any person – especially a suspect or someone against whom there are any suspicions – can review and pass this evidence on to other police officers, officers of the same police force, ladies and gentlemen, in the same city and at the same headquarters – the lawyer said.
The president of the Lower Silesian Human Rights Centre Foundation is also involved in the case.
– An hour after I heard about this case, I had a notification of a suspected crime ready – Radosz Pawlikowski, president of the Lower Silesian Human Rights Centre Foundation, commented. – I contacted the Wrocław branch of the Commissioner for Human Rights. Two days later, I received information that the first interference in the proceedings had occurred as early as the evidence-gathering stage. Police officers entered Bartek’s family home almost by force just three or four hours after his death, twisted Bartek’s aunt’s arm while she was grieving, and treated Bartek’s parents as if they were suspects rather than the bereaved parents of a 34-year-old man. The whole situation shocked me, and I concluded that this is not how the Polish state and its law-enforcement authorities should operate – the Foundation’s president added.
Radosz Pawlikowski commented on the testimony of a police officer from Lubin.
– Ladies and gentlemen, because on the twenty-fifth of August this year the officer gave testimony before the Łódź Regional Prosecutor’s Office, I obviously cannot reveal the details or content of that testimony. Nevertheless, after analysing its substantive content, we concluded that it was necessary to file a notification of a suspected crime under Article 233, paragraph 1a of the Criminal Code concerning the possibility that false testimony was given out of fear of criminal liability – Radosz Pawlikowski reported, adding: – The officer was the first of the witnesses among the officers to be re-questioned by the Łódź Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Further proceedings and further interrogations will be conducted in the future. At this stage, however, we are filing a notification concerning the officer. Of course, we are not prejudging that she gave false testimony; nevertheless, we believe this matter should be thoroughly examined by the Łódź Regional Prosecutor’s Office, because her testimony does not correspond with the remaining evidence in the case. Thus, the first notification concerning the giving of false testimony is being filed today. As far as the Foundation is concerned, this is already the third notification of a suspected crime in this case, concerning its various aspects – the president added.
Shocking findings after a nine-hour autopsy
– Importantly, we also consulted the nearly nine-hour autopsy report, which we obtained from the Łódź District Prosecutor’s Office, with doctors and colleagues in the field who deal with deaths and various illnesses every day – Wojciech Kasprzyk said. – They told us that, after a more detailed analysis and reviewing both the video materials and those we had collected, they concluded that positional asphyxia had occurred – that is, probably the man had been suffocated, or had been in a situation where he was unable to breathe fully, leading to brain death, and therefore the person, so to speak, slowly dies – the attorney said.
The lawyers are still waiting for the autopsy being conducted by forensic medicine specialists in Wrocław, as well as the one they commissioned privately.
– As far as I know, the state autopsy conducted by forensic medicine specialists in Wrocław will be available on Monday; that is the preliminary information we have received from the prosecutor – Wojciech Kasprzyk said. – Our privately commissioned one (commissioned privately, ed. istotne.pl) should be available sometime toward the end of next week. As for one important matter, we representatives are only afraid that this will turn out like the Stachowiak case, and that we will learn that it was excited delirium. This is a term very often used by prosecutors and experts. In our view, if a similar entry appears here, it will be another scandal – the lawyer added.
Appeal to Minister Zbigniew Ziobro
Attorney Wojciech Kasprzyk addressed the Minister of Justice and Prosecutor General in strong terms.
– To me, it is unimaginable that police officers should read one another’s documents. And, of course, there is the issue of evidence going missing. It is a scandal, ladies and gentlemen, that such things are happening in Poland?! I would now like to appeal to the minister. Minister – speaking very bluntly – for goodness’ sake! What is going on in this case?! What is happening that police officers are stealing evidence?! – Kasprzyk appealed at the end of the conference.