Brussels Assizes: Artur Gumkowski is acquitted of murder

Brussels Assizes: Artur Gumkowski is acquitted of murder

The jury of the Brussels Assizes Court found the defendant Artur Gumkowski not guilty of the murder of Jaroslaw Szostawicki. The 33 year Pole was accused of his fellow Pole’s murder, which took place on the 9th of August 2009 in an apartment on the chaussée de Mons in Anderlecht. In May 2013, the Court sentenced Artur Gumkowski to 20 years in prison for the crime, by default. He then appealed the conviction, and has just been acquitted. The jury bought the theory put forward by defense lawyers Counsel Vincent Lurquin and Catherine Toussaint, and acquitted him.

On the 9th of August, at around 6pm, police intervened at Pawel Bielski’s apartment, in the chausée de Mons in Anderlecht, as someone had been injured. They found Miroslaw Romaniuk, who made the call, at the scene, and Pawel Bielski so drunk he couldn’t stand up. Jaroslaw Szostawicki was slumped lifeless in a chair. He had been stabbed in the heart.

Miroslaw Romaniuk, Pawel Bielski and Artur Gumkowski were charged with the murder, and the Brussels Assizes Court acquitted the first two, but sentenced  Gumkowski to 20 years in prison by default in May 2013.

Artur Gumkowski appealed and has just been acquitted.

No-one has yet been found guilty and punished for Jaroslaw Szostawicki’s murder.

(Source: Belga)


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