A person who shot his two-year-old son within the head with an air gun earlier than stabbing and smothering him has been jailed for all times.
Lukasz Czapla, 41, was discovered responsible of murdering Julius Czapla with an air pistol and stabbing him with a skewer-like instrument.
He “acted out of spite to kill the kid to get again at his mom”, the Excessive Courtroom in Edinburgh heard.
Czapla, who killed the boy at an deal with in Muirhouse, Edinburgh, in November 2020, was obsessed by his ex-partner’s supposed infidelity, the jury was instructed.
He denied murdering the toddler and had beforehand supplied a responsible plea to the lesser cost of culpable murder. This was, nevertheless, rejected by the Crown.
The 2-week listening to on the Excessive Courtroom in Edinburgh ended with the jury unanimously discovering Czapla responsible of homicide.
Lord Beckett sentenced the convicted prison to life in jail with a minimal of 23 years earlier than parole.
Czapla had beforehand admitted 9 different prices, together with harmful driving offences and possession of an air gun. Sentences for every of those will run concurrently together with his life sentence.
Lord Beckett instructed Czapla: “You’ve gotten been discovered responsible of murdering your two-year-old son.
“For homicide, you can be sentenced to life in jail.”
He concluded Czapla “acted out of spite to kill the kid to get again at his mom”.
(PA)
Czapla had beforehand instructed the court docket that he did it in a “sick journey” after consuming alcohol with anti-depressant remedy he had been prescribed.
He murdered his son by repeatedly hanging him on the physique with a skewer, taking pictures him within the head a number of instances with an air pistol and putting a pillow on his face and asphyxiating him, the jury have been instructed.
Iain McSporran QC, defending, argued that Czapla had diminished accountability on the time of Julius’ loss of life.
Citing proof given by psychiatrist Dr Alexander Quinn, he beforehand stated the accused’s “depressive sickness had a considerable function that led to the killing”.
Additionally referencing Dr Quinn’s evaluation of Czapla, who stated he believed that the accused’s actions have been a “narcissistic and entitled” act, Alan Cameron, prosecuting, urged jurors to convict Czapla of homicide.
He stated proof confirmed the accused was motivated by anger and jealousy in direction of his former associate, the mom of Julius, Patrycja Szczesniak, who was in a relationship with him till 5 months earlier than the homicide.
Earlier proof heard the dad and mom had relationship points, and Czapla confirmed an obsession together with his ex-partner’s supposed infidelity whereas they have been collectively and his fury over her point out of a brand new associate.