Courts / Clare / Report
Cage fighter seeks to have murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice
Summary
A Polish cage fighter serving a life sentence for the 2014 murder of a 23-year-old man in Co Roscommon has brought proceedings before the Court of Appeal seeking to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. Leszek Sychulec, now in his 40s and previously resident in Ballymahon, Co Longford, was convicted alongside co-accused Andrzej Gruchacz in June 2016 of murdering Patryk Krupa at Athlone. The victim drowned in the River Shannon after suffering a head injury sustained during a violent assault. A jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts following five hours of deliberation, and mandatory life sentences were imposed. An earlier appeal in 2018 upheld both convictions. At a case management hearing before Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy on 15 May, Sychulec's legal representatives submitted that a miscarriage of justice arose from undisclosed material relevant to State witnesses. The court adjourned the matter to 3 July to allow the prosecution and defence to resolve disclosure issues, with an affidavit containing new evidence to be filed by 15 June. Andrzej Gruchacz pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Cage fighter seeks to have murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. 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 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 3 Adjournment
- June 15 Adjournment
- 2026-05-15 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Charges: murdering Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, Co Roscommon on June 20th, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The defendants were accordingly given mandatory life sentences by Mr Justice Tony Hunt on June 13, 2016.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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