A father who murdered his two-year-old son to get revenge against his ex-partner is to appeal his conviction. Lukasz Czapla killed his son Juliusz at his home in Muirhouse, Edinburgh, after finding out the boy’s mother, Patrycja Szczesniak, was in a new relationship.
In May, he was found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. The court had heard that Czapla, 41, originally from Gdansk in Poland, shot Juliusz in the head with a BB gun, stabbed him with a skewer-like instrument and smothered him with a pillow.
He was ordered to serve at least 23 years in prison but continues to deny his guilt and has instructed his legal team to challenge both the conviction and sentence.
Czapla’s appeal bid was lodged at the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh and a hearing will take place at a later date. He did not request to be released on bail and remains in custody.
Czapla had offered to plead guilty to culpable homicide, claiming diminished responsibility, but prosecutors pursued a murder conviction. A jury unanimously found Czapla guilty of murder.
Following the verdict, Patrycja said in a statement: “Juliusz 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.”
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