Courts / Westmeath / Report
Cage fighter who beat man and left him to drown in Shannon has murder conviction upheld
Summary
The Court of Appeal in Dublin has upheld murder convictions against two men in the death of a 23-year-old in June 2014. Leszek Sychulec, aged 35, from Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 36, had been found guilty of murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon. The victim was assaulted and left to drown in the Shannon outside Athlone while incapacitated from head injuries sustained during the attack. A Central Criminal Court jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts in 2016, and both men received mandatory life sentences. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice George Birmingham dismissed all grounds of appeal, finding the trials satisfactory and the verdicts safe. He noted CCTV evidence of exceptional quality from Collins Service Station on the Roscommon Road was central to the investigation, along with DNA and blood evidence recovered from the black BMW used in the abduction and from Sychulec's clothing and watch. Leszek Sychulec pleaded not guilty. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Cage fighter who beat man and left him to drown in Shannon has murder conviction upheld. Charges or matters: murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 20th, 2014 Incident
- June 13, 2016 Incident
- June 20 Incident
- 2018-01-30 Publication
Why: He frequented Collins Service Station and the Supermacs outlet, where he was known to staff as 'Taco Fries' because he regularly ordered large taco fries with extra taco sauce and extra cheese for himself and a small order for his girlfriend. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Defendant
Charges: murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Athlone
- Roscommon Road
- Saughton Prison
Topics
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