“Healthy, beautiful, beloved child died near home”. Court changes verdict in Hania's death case
– Despite the passage of time, the parents are unable to say goodbye to Hania's clothes, they talk to their son, who still asks about his sister. The father still blames himself. The trauma is deep, strong, the damage is irreversible – said in court the attorney for the parents of the 15-month-old girl who died in a car accident. The District Court in Płock changed the verdict in this case on Tuesday.
Łukasz and Karolina pass the place where their daughter Hania died almost every day. The girl was lying in a stroller when the driver of an SUV hit her. She died on the spot, a few hundred meters from home, in front of her father and then three-year-old brother.
The driver drove away. Despite the fact that his car was shown on major TV stations, he did not report to the police. The officers themselves knocked on his door.
In the court of first instance, the defense argued: my client could have fainted, felt bad. He is 61 years old and has health problems. They asked for an acquittal or a lenient sentence. In January 2023, the District Court in Sochaczew decided: four and a half years in prison, a lifetime driving ban and a compensatory payment for the parents – PLN 150,000 each.
The verdict did not satisfy any of the parties. All filed an appeal. On Tuesday, the case was brought back to the court of appeal.
Attorney Artur Ciepłowski, defender of Zbigniew W.: – There was an unfortunate accident, it was an incident in the life of the accused.
Attorney Małgorzata Falkiewicz, attorney for the parents: – A healthy, beautiful, beloved child died near home. The parents are trying to live, but the pain and trauma remain with them forever.
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