Courts / Tipperary / Report
Six years for man who killed his friend after night of 'excess'
Summary
Tomasz Rozpeda, a Polish national, has been sentenced to six years in prison for manslaughter after killing his friend, Maciej Nowak, on St Stephen's Day three years ago. The Central Criminal Court heard that Nowak suffered 27 injuries to his head and neck, with his brain twisting within his skull, indicating blunt force trauma from an object or flat surface. Rozpeda initially denied involvement but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court was told that both men had consumed substances to excess that night, and that Nowak had a high level of amphetamines and alcohol in his system. Rozpeda's defence highlighted his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions in Ireland, while the court noted the tragic impact on Nowak's fiancée and children. The judge set a headline sentence of nine years but reduced it to six due to Rozpeda's early guilty plea and other mitigating factors. The case was complicated by the lack of clear evidence and the fact that Rozpeda had previously been in contact with Nowak's fiancée to inform her of the incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Six years for man who killed his friend after night of 'excess'. Charges or matters: manslaughter when he was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 26 Incident
- June 27, 2024 Other
- December 28, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 27, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2024 Other
- 2026-07-06 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: manslaughter when he was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A Polish national who killed his friend, whose brain twisted in his skull after he received 27 injuries to his head and neck on St Stephen's Day three years ago, has been jailed for six years. Ms Justice Creedon sentenced Rozpeda to six years in prison, backdating the sentence to when he went into custody on December 28, 2023.
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Declan Boland from Thurles Garda Station
- Thurles
Topics
Related court reports
- Tipperary man admits attempted murder
- Trial date set for woman and teenager accused of murdering Scarlett Faulkner
- Teenage boy pleads guilty to manslaughter
- Irish Rail and council in dispute over signal mast near 'Gothic revival' station
- Careless truck driver who caused death of former Garryowen rugby player fails in sentence appeal
- Pair who drugged teen and tried to rape him get 10 years
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request