This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-19210360#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Damian Rzeszowski killed wife and children in Jersey 'after wife's affair' | Damian Rzeszowski killed wife and children in Jersey 'after wife's affair' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A man killed six people, including his wife and young children, because his marriage was failing after his wife had an affair, a Jersey court has heard. | A man killed six people, including his wife and young children, because his marriage was failing after his wife had an affair, a Jersey court has heard. |
Damian Rzeszowski, 31, from Poland, stabbed his victims at the family's St Helier flat in August 2011. | Damian Rzeszowski, 31, from Poland, stabbed his victims at the family's St Helier flat in August 2011. |
He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies all six counts of murder. | He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies all six counts of murder. |
The Royal Court heard Rzeszowski's two children, aged five and two, and another five-year-old each suffered more than a dozen stab wounds. | The Royal Court heard Rzeszowski's two children, aged five and two, and another five-year-old each suffered more than a dozen stab wounds. |
Rzeszowski is accused of murdering his wife Izabela Rzeszowska, 30, along with their daughter Kinga, five, and son Kacper, two, on 14 August 2011. | Rzeszowski is accused of murdering his wife Izabela Rzeszowska, 30, along with their daughter Kinga, five, and son Kacper, two, on 14 August 2011. |
He is also accused of murdering his wife's father Marek Garstka, 56, her friend Marta De La Haye, 34, and Mrs De La Haye's five-year-old daughter Julia. | He is also accused of murdering his wife's father Marek Garstka, 56, her friend Marta De La Haye, 34, and Mrs De La Haye's five-year-old daughter Julia. |
'Violent character' | |
Mr Sharp described Rzeszowski, who worked as a builder before his arrest, as a "pressure cooker who lacks a safety valve". | |
He said: "He has difficulties controlling his emotions and communicating his frustrations and worries. | |
"He has a history of violence and has been involved in somewhere between five to 10 fights since he moved to Jersey in 2005." | |
The court heard the killings took place against a backdrop of increasing marital difficulties. | |
Solicitor General Howard Sharp, for the prosecution, said: "Until around June 2011 the defendant's day-to-day behaviour was unremarkable, but things changed in June and July. | Solicitor General Howard Sharp, for the prosecution, said: "Until around June 2011 the defendant's day-to-day behaviour was unremarkable, but things changed in June and July. |
"What was the cause of that change? The answer is to be found in the state of the defendant's marriage. | "What was the cause of that change? The answer is to be found in the state of the defendant's marriage. |
"It had been in difficulties before the incident happened, but by this time it was under great strain." | "It had been in difficulties before the incident happened, but by this time it was under great strain." |
The case is being heard by a judge, Bailiff Sir Michael Birt, and two jurats - unpaid elected legal officers similar to UK magistrates. | The case is being heard by a judge, Bailiff Sir Michael Birt, and two jurats - unpaid elected legal officers similar to UK magistrates. |
Mr Sharp told them that during this period Mrs Rzeszowska admitted to her husband that she had been having a two-month affair with another man. | Mr Sharp told them that during this period Mrs Rzeszowska admitted to her husband that she had been having a two-month affair with another man. |
After learning of his wife's infidelity, the court heard, Rzeszowski started going out drinking and had a one-night stand, before taking an overdose of pills on 19 July. | After learning of his wife's infidelity, the court heard, Rzeszowski started going out drinking and had a one-night stand, before taking an overdose of pills on 19 July. |
'Black-out' | 'Black-out' |
The knife attack took place in the couple's home in Victoria Crescent, St Helier, on the day they returned from a holiday to Poland. | The knife attack took place in the couple's home in Victoria Crescent, St Helier, on the day they returned from a holiday to Poland. |
Before the attack Mrs Rzeszowska and her father left the flat to go and get Mrs De La Haye and her daughter so they could all have a barbecue together. | Before the attack Mrs Rzeszowska and her father left the flat to go and get Mrs De La Haye and her daughter so they could all have a barbecue together. |
When they returned, they found that Rzeszowski had gone out and left the children by themselves. | When they returned, they found that Rzeszowski had gone out and left the children by themselves. |
Mr Sharp said: "His wife remonstrated with him about leaving two young children on their own, and from this point on he says he had an apparent black-out." | Mr Sharp said: "His wife remonstrated with him about leaving two young children on their own, and from this point on he says he had an apparent black-out." |
Over an hour-and-a-half after the argument, Rzeszowski used a kitchen knife to stab his father-in-law who was sitting on a bed watching television. | Over an hour-and-a-half after the argument, Rzeszowski used a kitchen knife to stab his father-in-law who was sitting on a bed watching television. |
The attack severed his spinal cord. | The attack severed his spinal cord. |
Rzeszowski went on to stab the three children, who were painting in the living room. | Rzeszowski went on to stab the three children, who were painting in the living room. |
The court heard Julia De La Haye, five, was stabbed 16 times, Rzeszowski's son Kacper, two, was stabbed 13 times and daughter Kinga had 16 wounds. | The court heard Julia De La Haye, five, was stabbed 16 times, Rzeszowski's son Kacper, two, was stabbed 13 times and daughter Kinga had 16 wounds. |
He then went on to stab the two women. | |
Mr Sharp told the court it looked like Mrs De La Haye was attacked in the doorway of the house as she tried to escape. | |
Mrs Rzeszowska had tried to call for help using 997 - the Polish emergency services number. | Mrs Rzeszowska had tried to call for help using 997 - the Polish emergency services number. |
Prosecutors said she was chased through the flat and on to the street where he continued to stab her in view of the neighbours. | Prosecutors said she was chased through the flat and on to the street where he continued to stab her in view of the neighbours. |
The court heard neighbours tried to intervene, then Rzeszowski started stabbing himself as he went back inside the flat. | |
He slumped to the ground with a collapsed lung near where he had attacked his father-in-law. | |
'Lost temper' | 'Lost temper' |
Mr Sharp said: "The state of their marriage was a determining factor in the defendant's behaviour in June and July last year. | |
"He could not face the prospect of a failed marriage." | "He could not face the prospect of a failed marriage." |
Mr Sharp said the argument "probably" happened at 13:00 BST or shortly thereafter and the killings started at around 14:45 BST. | Mr Sharp said the argument "probably" happened at 13:00 BST or shortly thereafter and the killings started at around 14:45 BST. |
"We know for sure that 999 calls were made at 14:58 and 15:00 BST when several residents saw the defendant on the street with a knife, which happened at the very end (of the attack)," he said. | "We know for sure that 999 calls were made at 14:58 and 15:00 BST when several residents saw the defendant on the street with a knife, which happened at the very end (of the attack)," he said. |
Mr Sharp said this lapse in time showed the attacks had not been the product of a momentary loss of control. | Mr Sharp said this lapse in time showed the attacks had not been the product of a momentary loss of control. |
He added: "It's one thing for the defendant to say he lost his temper in the heat of the moment, it is quite another to say he had an hour and three-quarters to think about it." | He added: "It's one thing for the defendant to say he lost his temper in the heat of the moment, it is quite another to say he had an hour and three-quarters to think about it." |
The trial is expected to last for up to two weeks. | The trial is expected to last for up to two weeks. |
Previous version
1
Next version