A man has been jailed for three years for the fatal stabbing of his stepson during a drunken fight in Kildare.
Boguslaw Kulczynki (49) tried to cover up the killing by placing the knife in the victim’s hand before gardaí arrived. The Polish national later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and admitted he stabbed Krystian Morawski (21) during a fight in the kitchen.
Kulczynki, Moorefield Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court to the unlawful killing of Krystian Morawski in his home on July 19th, 2010.
Sitting at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Leonie Reynolds rejected a defence application to impose a non-custodial sentence in light of the “exceptional and unique circumstances”.
She accepted that it was not premeditated and that the victim had a history of violence, but she noted Kulczynki’s attempt to cover up his involvement. She imposed an eight-year sentence with five suspended on strict conditions.
Det Garda Ger Cooney told Orla Crowe, prosecuting, that Kulczynki was drinking in his home with his wife and friends. His stepson was also there and drinking alcohol.
Kulczynki went to bed and was later woken by his wife, Julita Kulczynka, telling him his car was missing. He suspected Mr Morawski had taken it. Later that night gardaí called him to say his car had been found abandoned and damaged.
Kulczynki returned to bed but was again woken by his wife who told him she had been assaulted by her son, Mr Morawski. Kulczynki confronted his stepson in the kitchen and a fight broke out.
Mr Morawski was stabbed several times in the chest. Before gardaí arrived Kulczynki wiped down the knife and placed it in the victim’s hand.
At first investigators believed it was a suicide but Kulczynki later told them Mr Morawski impaled himself on the blade. He later admitted to manslaughter.
The court heard Kulczynki had a poor relationship with his stepson, which was made worse by his drink and drug use and propensity for violence.
Paul Greene SC, defending, told the court that Kulczynki came here several years ago and worked in construction before losing his job during the economic downturn. He said prison would be very difficult for Kulczynki and his family as his wife has serious medical difficulties. A victim impact report from Ms Kulczynka said jailing him would cause “extreme hardship” for the family.