During questioning on 7 October, 31-year-old Ukrainian national Ihor M. admitted to the charges of murdering a priest and attempting to kill four people, but refused to make a statement. The Polish public prosecutor’s office reported that the questioning was made possible following a new report from forensic psychiatrists; the question of the man’s mental capacity at the time of the attack is still under investigation.
Briefly about the main points
- The interrogation took place on 7 October following a new psychiatric report.
- The suspect admitted to the offence but did not provide any explanation.
- Priest Stanislav Zboinovich was killed in the attack.
- Four more people were injured; the condition of the two seriously injured has stabilised.
- The man is in custody; the maximum sentence is life imprisonment.
The questioning took place in the presence of an interpreter and a defence lawyer
The Polish Press Agency reported on the results of the questioning on 8 October, citing Malgorzata Tacyuch-Kurasevich, a spokeswoman for the District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl. The investigative proceedings were conducted in the presence of a sworn interpreter and a court-appointed defence lawyer.
The man has been formally charged with the murder and attempted murder of four people. According to a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office, he has admitted to the offences with which he has been charged and has exercised his right to remain silent.
Attack at a monastery: a priest was killed and four people were injured
According to the investigation, on the morning of 24 September, a knife attack took place on the grounds of the Benedictine nuns’ abbey in Jarosław, in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. A priest Stanislav Zboynovich sustained numerous stab wounds and died.
According to the police, the attacker then attacked four more people: priests Mark Penkovsky й Adriana Mantikevich, as well as Krzysztof G. and Ewa S. Some of the injuries posed an immediate threat to life.
The two men with the most serious injuries were taken to a medical centre in Yaroslavl. The public prosecutor’s office reported that their condition had improved and stabilised.
The ability to be questioned does not determine mental capacity at the time of the attack
Following his arrest, the initial findings of the forensic psychiatrists indicated acute psychotic disorders, impaired thinking and an inability to establish meaningful contact with the suspect. As a result, the investigators temporarily suspended the interrogation and other procedural steps.
A follow-up examination in early October revealed some improvement, but initially did not allow for procedural steps to be taken. Following a third examination, ordered by the prosecutor on 6 October, the experts concluded the following day that the man was fit to take part in investigative proceedings.
The prosecution emphasised that this conclusion does not establish the suspect’s mental capacity at the time of the attack. This will be examined separately during the subsequent proceedings.
The suspect is being held in the psychiatric ward
Igor M. is charged with murder, the attempted murder of four people and causing grievous bodily harm. Under Polish law, such offences are punishable by up to life imprisonment.
The court sentenced the man to three months’ detention, which he is serving in a forensic psychiatric unit with enhanced security measures. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl is continuing to investigate the motives and other circumstances of the attack, whilst the final decision on criminal liability will be made by the court.
