Przemyslaw Jakubowski’s rape conviction appeal fails

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

Przemyslaw Jakubowski’s appeal against his rape conviction and 15-year prison sentence failed in the Court of Criminal Appeal, in a judgment delivered on 31 July 2014. O’Donnell J delivered the court’s judgment.

The proceedings concerned a woman who was attacked in a public toilet on 9 March 2011, held against her will and raped. The source records the case under assault and rape.

Evidence included fingerprints on an empty beer can, CCTV showing a man buying lager and tights, and DNA profiles matching the victim on underwear seized from Jakubowski’s home.

The appeal challenged the validity of the search warrant and argued that evidence obtained during the search should have been excluded. The court accepted that the warrant did not comply with the District Court Rules or prescribed form, but held that this did not invalidate it.

The court therefore found the entry lawful and held that the trial court was right not to exclude the evidence.