Dariusz Weckowicz acquitted of Letterkenny murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy directed the acquittal of Dariusz Weckowicz, 51, on the charge of murdering Bogdan Michalkiewicz. The judge decided that the evidence could not support a conviction. The proceedings were reported on 5 July 2016.

According to the report, CCTV showed Weckowicz in Letterkenny with Krzystof Grzegorski on the day Bogdan Michalkiewicz was killed. Blood spatter found on Weckowicz’s clothing placed him at the scene of the killing.

Brendan Grehan SC, defending Weckowicz, argued that this established his presence but did not show he had joined the attack. He suggested Weckowicz had passed out on the sofa.

A jury convicted Krzystof Grzegorski, 22, of murdering Bogdan Michalkiewicz, who was 41. The victim was killed on 13 May 2013 in his home at Westside Apartments in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

Grzegorski had pleaded guilty to manslaughter; the prosecution declined to accept that plea.

Jurors were unanimous after deliberating for a little over five hours. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the mandatory life sentence on Grzegorski.

Grzegorski’s counsel argued that his conduct was irrational and illogical, and that intoxication had left him unaware of what he was doing during the attack.