On Saturday morning, 72-year-old priest Prelate Lech Lachowicz from Szczytno, who was the victim of a brutal attack, died in hospital. Information about his death was provided by the spokesman of the Curia in Olsztyn, Fr. Marcin Sawicki. A 27-year-old man suspected in this case is in custody. He was charged with attempted murder. He attacked the priest for robbery purposes.
Curia spokesman, Fr. Sawicki said that on Saturday morning, Fr. died. Monsignor Lech Lachowicz, long-time parish priest of St. Brother Albert in Szczytno.
The priest was the victim of a brutal attack that took place last Sunday at the rectory of the parish in Szczytno. He was taken to hospital and his condition was described as critical from the beginning. The suspect, who was arrested on Monday and charged with attempted murder, was taken into custody after the court's decision.
Read also: Brutal beating of a priest. A 27-year-old man was arrested
Change of charges against the suspect
The spokesman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Olsztyn, Daniel Brodowski, confirmed the priest's death and said on Saturday that an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. “The prosecutor is waiting for the doctor's opinion on whether the injuries that resulted in the priest's death were inflicted by the perpetrator,” he explained. He added that the charges against the suspect would then be changed.
Read also: “He struck the priest several times on the head with an axe.” 27-year-old charged and arrested
Prosecutor Daniel Brodowski announced on Tuesday that the detained 27-year-old was charged with attempted murder of a priest. The charge states that he struck the parish priest several times on the head with a metal axe, which caused, among other things, skull fracture and swelling of brain tissue. The priest also had an extensive wound on his face. “He did not achieve the intended goal due to the quick provision of help,” it was written in the complaint against the 27-year-old. The attacker was frightened and the parsonage's housekeeper called for help.
Father Lech Lachowicz was 72 years old. In recent years, he served as parish priest of St. Brother Albert in Szczytno. He was the builder of this church.
Main photo source: Kurekmazurski.pl website