The Polish prosecutor's office has changed the qualification of charges against 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen Igor M., suspected of a knife attack on the grounds of a Benedictine monastery in Jarosław. Now the man faces five separate charges — for the murder of a priest and attempted murder of four others. He faces life imprisonment.
This was reported on November 2 by RMF24, citing a representative of the District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl, Małgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz.
According to the prosecutor, the changes are of a legal nature. Previously, Igor M.'s actions were considered under a single charge combining murder and attempted murder of four people.
Now the investigation has concluded that the suspect acted with separately arising intent toward each victim. Therefore, the prosecutor's office qualified his actions as five independent crimes against life.
After the amended charges were announced, the Ukrainian admitted his involvement in the alleged crimes. However, he refused to testify or answer investigators' questions.
As Taciuch-Kurasiewicz said, the man only stated that he deeply regrets what he did.
For the charges brought, Polish law provides for the possibility of imposing a cumulative sentence up to life imprisonment.
The attack occurred on September 24, 2026, on the grounds of the Benedictine sisters' monastery in Jarosław, Podkarpackie Voivodeship. According to the investigation, the Ukrainian citizen attacked five people with a knife.
As a result of his wounds, priest Stanisław Zbojnowicz died. Four others, including two clergy, sustained injuries of varying severity. Some injuries posed a direct threat to life.
The suspect was detained by police near the monastery church building.
After detention, the man's condition prevented investigators from conducting necessary investigative actions. Court psychiatrists identified symptoms of acute polymorphic psychotic disorder.
Because of this, the prosecutor's office initially could not interrogate the Ukrainian and formally notify him of the charges. After his condition improved, specialists permitted procedural actions.
However, the question of the suspect's sanity at the moment of the attack remains open. Experts are to provide an assessment at the next stage of the investigation. It will be of significant importance in determining the man's criminal responsibility.
Igor M. remains in pre-trial detention. Given his health condition, the preventive measure is being executed in a specialized psychiatric ward with enhanced security.
Earlier, a court in Przemyśl rejected a defense appeal and upheld the decision on a three-month arrest of the suspect.
Polish investigators have also requested medical documentation about the man from Ukrainian authorities, including information about possible psychiatric treatment. In addition, the prosecutor's office intends to question his mother and obtain information about possible criminal records in Ukraine.
According to the prosecutor's office, the man had no prior criminal record in Poland. Blood tests did not reveal the presence of alcohol or psychoactive substances.
As previously reported by "Kurs Ukrainy", initial psychiatric examinations did not allow interrogation of the suspect. The investigation continued without his direct participation.
The change in the classification of charges marks a new procedural stage in the investigation. The final decision on Igor M.'s guilt and punishment will be made by the court.
Based on materials from: RMF24, PAP, District Prosecutor's Office in Przemyśl.
