Courts / Carlow / Report
"The type of thing you see committed by Isis": men set fire to car while prisoner was in boot
Summary
The Court of Appeal has substantially increased prison sentences imposed on two men convicted of setting fire to a vehicle containing a bound and gagged prisoner in the boot. Polish nationals Kamil Lacki and Krzysztof Niepogoda, with addresses in Co Carlow, had pleaded guilty at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to arson, false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and cannabis cultivation at various locations in late December 2015. The Circuit Court imposed six years imprisonment with the final year suspended. On appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the three-judge court described the offence as akin to attempted murder and "unbelievable". The appellate judges found the original headline sentences significantly too low. Lacki was resentenced to nine years imprisonment, while Niepogoda received ten years, with an additional consecutive twelve-month term for a subsequent assault on the same victim. The court noted the victim's escape was possible only because duct tape had been removed to allow questioning.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "The type of thing you see committed by Isis": men set fire to car while prisoner was in boot. Charges or matters: arson, false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and the cultivation of cannabis at various locations in the county in late December 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2015 Incident
- December 8, 2017 Incident
- Christmas Incident
- Christmas Eve Incident
- 2018-10-08 Publication
Why: Because of this, he was able to bite through the remaining duct tape in order to free himself. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: arson, false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and the cultivation of cannabis at various locations in the county in late December 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: They were sentenced at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Alice Doyle on December 8, 2017. Lacki was re-sentenced to 9 years in prison while Niepogoda was given 10 years.; Unable to be put back into the boot of his car, the injured party was brought to another location and held over a bridge by his feet while the men threatened to kill him.
Appellant
Charges: arson, false imprisonment, assault, criminal damage and the cultivation of cannabis at various locations in the county in late December 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: They were sentenced at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court to six years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Alice Doyle on December 8, 2017. Lacki was re-sentenced to 9 years in prison while Niepogoda was given 10 years.; Unable to be put back into the boot of his car, the injured party was brought to another location and held over a bridge by his feet while the men threatened to kill him.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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