"They sought revenge for alleged harm." Final verdict regarding the kidnapping of a teenager

The kidnapping was supposed to be revenge

The dramatic story began in April 2025. The 16-year-old daughter then told 43-year-old Mariusz Z. that she had been drunk and abused by her 16-year-old friend. The man decided to scare and beat the teenager, and his friends were supposed to help him.

Four men dragged the 16-year-old into a car, put a plastic bag over his head and threatened to kill him. Near the marina on the Warta River, they pulled the boy out of the car, beat him and tried to rape him.

In April this year, the District Court in Poznań found the defendants guilty of kidnapping, beating and attempting to rape a 16-year-old. Mariusz Z. was sentenced to a total penalty of 7 years in prison, Franciszek G. to 5.5 years, and Michał L., who was responsible for recidivism, to 6 years and 2 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Jarosław J., who was driving the car, was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for participating in the kidnapping. The lawyers of the three convicts and the prosecutor's office appealed against the verdict.

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in Poznań upheld the contested ruling.

"The court has the tools to administer justice"

In her justification, Judge Izabela Pospieska said that the court of first instance imposed penalties "which, in the opinion of the court of appeal, are fair."

The appellants did not provide any arguments that would undermine this assessment in such an effective way as to at least cast doubt on the accuracy of the findings made, the judge noted.

The defendants' motivation was simple. They sought revenge for the alleged harm that the injured party had caused to Mariusz Z.'s daughter - said the judge. She also noted that, as it was established, the teenager did not sexually abuse the daughter of one of the accused.

This case is an example of what happens when justice is administered by people on their own, through lynching. This case brings awareness, among other things, the need for the existence and operation of the justice system, because the court has the tools to administer justice within the limits set by law, Pospieska emphasized.