Courts / Westmeath / Report

Witness tells trial he saw men beat Patryk Krupa and drag him in to river

Date
2016-04-12
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Athlone
County
Westmeath

Summary

A witness has testified at the Central Criminal Court that he observed two men remove a 23-year-old from a vehicle, assault him for approximately 15 minutes, and subsequently drag him towards the River Shannon. Kuba Zmuda was providing evidence in the trial of Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, from Warsaw, Poland. Both men are charged with the murder of Patryk Krupa at Bogganfin, Athlone, County Roscommon on 20 June 2014. Each defendant has entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge and to a separate count of false imprisonment. Mr Zmuda described being present when the accused men located Mr Krupa on Church Street in Athlone town centre and brought him to a location near the N6 bridge crossing the Shannon. He stated the men beat and kicked Mr Krupa, who was subsequently found drowned. The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Witness tells trial he saw men beat Patryk Krupa and drag him in to river. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Krupa; falsely imprisoning Mr Krupa. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: He explained that that the driver turned the car, but he could see a little of what was happening in the mirror and said that the two men dragged the deceased to the water. CNI source report

Case subjects

Andrzej Gruchacz

Defendant

Charges: murdering Mr Krupa; falsely imprisoning Mr Krupa (Alleged Or Contested)

Leszek Sychulec

Defendant

Charges: murdering Mr Krupa; falsely imprisoning Mr Krupa (Alleged Or Contested)

Patryk Krupa

Accused

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Journey Or Route

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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