An evil dad who shot and stabbed his son has been found guilty of murdering the tot in Edinburgh.
Lukasz Czapla, 41, was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh today over the death of his son, Julius, at his home in the capital in November 2020.
Lukasz killed the two-year-old son by shooting him in the head with an air pistol, stabbing him with a skewer and suffocating him.
The two-week hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh ended with a jury unanimously finding Czapla guilty of murder.
Lord Beckett proceeded straight to sentencing the convicted criminal to life in prison with a minimum of 23 years before parole.
After sentencing, Julius' mum Patrycja Szczesniak spoke out for the first time about her "beloved little boy" since he was cruelly murdered to make her "suffer".
She told Edinburgh Live: "I only wanted the best for you. If only I could only turn back time to have you in my arms again my child.
"Despite the breakup with Julius's dad, I wanted him to have contact with our son. I never stopped him seeing Julius. Julek loved him like every child loves their dad. He trusted him, he trusted him completely.
"Julius was murdered only for revenge. His dad wanted me to suffer, he succeeded and achieved his goal, at the cost of my beloved little boy’s life[...]
"Every day I think about Julius. I can't imagine what his little, helpless heart felt that night and I feel his fear and pain every day. He was part of me, part of my heart and soul.
"I wish I could hug him, play with him and watch him grow."
Lukasz Czapla was previously found guilty of nine other charges on the indictment, including dangerous driving offences and possession of an air gun.
Sentences for each of these will run concurrently with his life sentence, the court heard.
Lord Beckett, addressing Czapla, said: "You have been found guilty of murdering your two-year-old son.
"For murder you will be sentenced to life in prison."
He concluded Czapla "acted out of spite to kill the child to get back at his mother."
The 41-year-old previously told the High Court in Edinburgh he shot his son in the head with an air gun before stabbing him with a skewer-like instrument and smothering him with a pillow.
The court heard Czapla said he did it in a "sick trip" after having consumed alcohol with anti-depressant medication he had been prescribed at the time.
He dnied murdering the toddler and previously offered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
This was, however, rejected by the Crown.
Jurors heard lawyers' closing arguments on Tuesday before retiring to deliberate on Wednesday morning after taking legal direction from Lord Beckett.
Czapla is accused of murdering his son on 20 or 21 November 2020 by repeatedly striking him on the body with a skewer, shooting him in the head multiple times with an air pistol and placing a pillow on his face and asphyxiating him.
Iain McSporran QC, defending, urged jurors to convict his client on a culpable homicide charge, arguing that Czapla had diminished responsibility at the time of Julius' death.
Citing evidence given by psychiatrist, Dr Alexander Quinn, he has previously said the accused's "depressive illness had a substantial role that led to the killing."
Also referencing Dr Quinn's assessment of Czapla, who said he believed that the accused's actions were a "narcissistic and entitled" act, Alan Cameron, prosecuting, urged jurors to convict Czapla of murder.
He said evidence before the jury showed the accused was motivated by anger and jealousy towards his former partner, the mother of Julius, Patrycja Szczesniak, who was in a relationship with him until June 2020.
Previous evidence heard the parents had relationship issues, with Czapla showing an obsession about his ex-partner's supposed infidelity while they were together and his fury over her mention of a new partner.
Czapla has pleaded guilty to nine other charges which include dangerous driving, drug possession and having an air weapon.
Despite Czapla's life term, Julius' mother says there's no sentence that will bring her "angel back to life".
She told Edinburgh Live: "Julius was a very happy child. He lit up the place wherever he showed up.
"He could put a smile on anyone's face and always looked forward to calls with his Grandma and Auntie.
"They managed to build a strong relationship despite the distance in miles between us and enjoyed every minute they had together.
"It is breaking our hearts that we are no longer able to take his hand and lead him through life.
"To watch him enjoy riding his bike and eating his favourite ice cream.
"Listen to his giggling and laughing and being amazed by the things he learned every day.
"There was so much we wanted to show him but this chance was brutally taken from us and now the only thing we can do is to prey for the highest possible punishment.
"We want to believe in the justice system and that justice will be served, although I know there is no sentence that will bring my angel back to life."
