Outrage grows after Polish judge reduces sentence of child rapist

Outrage is growing in Poland after a judge reduced the sentence of a man convicted of raping and murdering a 3-year-old boy.

In February 2019, the Sieradz District Court in Central Poland sentenced Steve V. to 25 years of prison for raping and mortally wounding a three-year-old child. Both sides had appealed the sentence, with the prosecutor’s office demanding a life sentence and the defense team of the accused filing a motion for acquittal.

The Appeal Court in Łódź overturned the verdict and reduced the sentence to 15 years and €23,500 compensation to the child’s mother.

The presiding judge, Krzysztof Eichstaedt, explained that the previous sentence of 25 years was a disproportionately severe punishment.