Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Court hears 'desperately sad case' of dad (70) who fatally stabbed mentally ill son

Summary

In a hearing at the Central Criminal Court, 70‑year‑old Zbigniew Bednarczyk was found guilty of manslaughter after fatally stabbing his 36‑year‑old son, Rafal Bednarczyk Jacyna, in the leg on 27 February 2023. Bednarczyk had originally been charged with murder but entered a plea to manslaughter, which the State accepted. The court heard that Rafal had serious mental health problems and had been admitted to hospital; Bednarczyk claimed he was trying to ensure his son took his medication, saying that if the son did not take it he would "go crazy". A witness described a physical altercation in which Bednarczyk allegedly pushed and kicked his son, who then struck him with a knife. The wound was a 11‑cm puncture that severed the femoral artery, causing hypovolemic shock. Bednarczyk's mother, Beata Przybylska‑Block, gave a victim impact statement describing the devastating effect on her life.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court hears 'desperately sad case' of dad (70) who fatally stabbed mentally ill son. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 27, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 1, 2023 Other
• 2025-02-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Former Christian Brothers accused of breach of duty to be named in national newspaper
• High Court to consider publishing names of 340 former Christian Brothers
• Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
• Disabled snooker player acquitted of assaulting Carlow gardaí
• Mayo jury returns insanity verdict in telecoms damage case
• Musician gets 16.5 years for repeatedly raping then-wife and her sister

Read the original CNI report