Murder of priest in Poland: Ukrainian suspect confessed
In Poland, 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen Ihor M., suspected of murdering a Catholic priest and attempting to kill four other people, has confessed to the charges against him. The prosecution was able to question the man after receiving a psychiatric evaluation.
This was reported on October 8 by Wirtualna Polska citing the spokesperson of the District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl, Małgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz.
The interrogation took place on October 7 in the presence of a court-appointed attorney and a sworn interpreter. The suspect confessed to the charges, but exercised his right to refuse further explanations.
The man is accused of murder of one person, attempted murder of four people, and causing grievous bodily harm. If found guilty, he faces life imprisonment.
Attack occurred on monastery grounds
The crime occurred on September 24, 2026, in the town of Jarosław in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, located in southeastern Poland. The attack took place on the grounds of the Benedictine Sisters' Abbey.
According to the prosecution, the suspect attacked Catholic priest Stanisław Zbojnowicz with a knife. The 65-year-old clergyman died from his wounds.
After that, according to investigators, the attacker assaulted four other people — two priests and two laypeople. The victims suffered serious injuries, some of which posed an immediate threat to life.
Among the wounded were priests Marek Pieńkowski and Adrian Mantykiewicz, as well as two others.
According to the latest information from the investigation, the condition of the two most seriously injured men, who remain in the hospital in Jarosław, has improved and is assessed as stable.
Why the suspect could not be questioned earlier
After Ihor M.'s arrest, investigators faced the need for a psychiatric evaluation. Initial expert opinions indicated an acute psychotic disorder, due to which the suspect could not fully participate in procedural actions.
In particular, experts noted severe thought disorders and the inability to establish stable logical contact with the man. As a result, the formal presentation of charges and interrogation had to be postponed.
On October 6, the prosecution for the third time engaged forensic psychiatrists to assess the suspect's condition. The next day, specialists concluded that the man could now participate in investigative actions.
The prosecution separately emphasized that the new evaluation concerns solely the possibility of conducting the interrogation. The question of the suspect's sanity at the time of the attack remains unresolved.
To determine this, a separate expert assessment will be required, the results of which may be of significant importance for further judicial proceedings.
By court decision, Ihor M. is in pre-trial detention for three months. The preventive measure is being carried out in a specialized forensic psychiatric unit with enhanced security conditions.
The investigation continues under the leadership of the District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl, which took over the case due to its gravity and complexity.
Sources: Wirtualna Polska, TVP Info, District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl.
