After hearing the final witness, the police officer who prepared a note about the Women’s Strike march in Gromadka in 2020, the court closed the proceedings. The verdict will be announced in July.
– I could not understand why the police named me as the organizer of the march. I request an acquittal – Halina Gniewek said at the hearing.
During the testimony of the police officer who wrote in his note that “The course of the event may suggest that Halina Gniewek was the organizer of the assembly”, the question arose: how many police officers were involved in watching the few protesters in Gromadka?
– There were two or three police cars, perhaps more – the officer replied.
The judge asked whether the police officers had no better work to do than watch citizens peacefully walking.
– There were seven people in Gromadka, and roughly the same number of police officers? – the judge pressed. – Is there no better work for a police officer?
The police officer replied that he was only carrying out his superiors’ orders.
– Sometimes I feel sorry for you – the judge replied, referring to police work.
The police officer testified that he had seen Halina Gniewek from about 40 meters away; it was already dark, and today he would not recognize her if he did not know that she was the person sitting in the dock. He barely remembered the incident, and the names of the people walking in Gromadka had been dictated to him by a colleague or his superiors.
– I certainly prepared some kind of note – the police officer said. – I suspect that two years ago I was in Gromadka, where there were some protests. I was driving the police car. I went there with the station commander and the chief officer. I was the driver – he added.
The accused, Halina Gniewek, explained in court that she had participated in Women’s Strike marches on those days but had not organized them, and requested an acquittal. The verdict will be announced in July. Halina Gniewek was supported by the Bolesławiec Women’s Strike and the Wolna Gromadka Association.
