The District Court in Łódź has sentenced Sylwester M. to 28 years in prison for setting fire to and killing 36-year-old Paweł J., who was sleeping on a bus stop bench. The prosecution had charged him with murder with particular cruelty. On the night of March 19-20, 2024, the perpetrator approached the victim multiple times before ultimately setting his clothing on fire. According to surveillance footage, after committing the act, he watched the burning man. The verdict is not final, as the defense has announced an appeal.

28 Years in Prison for the Perpetrator

The District Court in Łódź sentenced Sylwester M. to 28 years in prison. Although the prosecution sought a life sentence, the court found that the defendant's lack of prior criminal record and diminished sanity at the time of the act warranted a less severe penalty.

Macabre Course of the Crime

The victim, 36-year-old Paweł J., was sleeping on a bench on Pomorska Street on the night of March 19-20, 2024. The perpetrator first struck him, took his hat, then returned and repeatedly used lighters to set his clothing and body on fire. After setting the fire, he watched the burning man.

Death in Agony

Experts determined that Paweł J. died as a result of extensive burns and charring of tissues. His death involved immense suffering, which the court recognized as the basis for classifying the act as murder with particular cruelty.

Compensation and Further Procedure

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the convict to pay 50,000 zloty in compensation to the victim's mother. The convict will be eligible to apply for early release only after serving 20 years. The verdict is not final; the defense will file an appeal.

On Tuesday, February 25, 2026, the District Court in Łódź announced the verdict in the horrific murder case from March 2024. Sylwester M. was sentenced to 28 years in prison for setting fire to and causing the death of 36-year-old Paweł J., who was sleeping on a bench at a bus stop on Pomorska Street. Judge Agnieszka Szeliga ruled that the defendant had committed murder with particular cruelty because his actions involved inflicting unnecessary suffering on the victim. The investigation, supported by surveillance footage, reconstructed the course of events on the night of March 19-20, 2024. Sylwester M. first struck the sleeping man and took his hat. After a brief absence, he returned with the intent to kill. According to the prosecution, he used a lighter nearly thirty times to set the victim's clothing and body on fire. After igniting the fire, he did not flee but instead watched the burning man from close range for an extended period, making no attempt to rescue him. Forensic medical experts determined that the direct cause of death was extensive burns and charring of tissues, which involved unimaginable pain. The Polish Penal Code stipulates a penalty of imprisonment for no less than 15 years, 25 years in prison, or life imprisonment for murder with particular cruelty. In 2023, a reform tightening penalties for the most serious crimes came into effect, eliminating, among other things, the fixed 25-year sentence in favor of a flexible term of up to 30 years. In the justification, Judge Szeliga indicated that the act deserved the highest condemnation, but the court decided on a sentence of 28 years in prison instead of life. Mitigating circumstances taken into account included the defendant's lack of prior criminal record and the opinion of psychiatric experts regarding his diminished sanity at the time of the crime. The defendant did not plead guilty during the trial, although he was implicated by the recordings and tools found on him. In addition to the main penalty, the court ordered the obligation to pay 50,000 zloty in compensation to the victim's mother. The convict will be eligible to apply for conditional early release only after serving at least 20 years of the sentence. The verdict is not final; Sylwester M.'s lawyer has already announced the filing of an appeal, meaning the final sentence will be determined by the Court of Appeal.

Mentioned People

  • Sylwester M. — defendant and convict for setting fire to and killing Paweł J.
  • Paweł J. — murder victim, 36-year-old man set on fire on a bus stop bench
  • Agnieszka Szeliga — judge of the District Court in Łódź, presiding over the adjudicating panel in this case