Courts / Longford / Report

Witness agrees he did not tell gardai what he told trial until "pulled for murder"

Summary

A key prosecution witness in a Central Criminal Court murder trial conceded during cross-examination that he disclosed nothing to gardaí about the alleged killing until after his own arrest on suspicion of murder. Kuba Zmuda testified that he witnessed the assault on Patryk Krupa, aged 23, on the banks of the River Shannon near Athlone on 20 June 2014. Leszek Sychulec, aged 34, of Drinan, Ballymahon, County Longford, and Andrzej Gruchacz, aged 35, of Warsaw, Poland, are charged with Mr Krupa's murder. Both men deny the allegations and also deny a separate charge of false imprisonment. The trial heard that Mr Krupa died from a head injury sustained during an assault. Under cross-examination by the defence barrister, Mr Zmuda acknowledged that he had made no statement to gardaí prior to his arrest, despite meeting Mr Krupa's sister and receiving a phone call from his girlfriend. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury. The unnamed 23-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Witness agrees he did not tell gardai what he told trial until "pulled for murder". Charges or matters: murder; false imprisonment. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 20th, 2014 Incident
• 2016-04-13 Publication

Why: "Yes, because I was terrified," he replied. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report