Damian Rzeszowski (Jersey, Family Murderer)

Damian Rzeszowski was born in Nowy Sącz, Poland, in 1980. He later moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands, where he worked as a builder and lived with his wife, Izabela Rzeszowska, and their two young children.

Rzeszowski had previously been described as a hard-working man and loving father. His marriage deteriorated significantly during 2011 after Izabela told him she had been having an affair with another man and no longer loved him. The revelation had a profound effect on Rzeszowski, who began drinking heavily and subsequently took an overdose.

The couple nevertheless attempted to repair their marriage and travelled to Poland to visit their families. They returned to Jersey on August 14, 2011, the day of the killings.

On the afternoon of August 14, 2011, Rzeszowski armed himself with two kitchen knives and began attacking members of his family and visitors at the family's flat in St Helier.

His first victim was believed to have been his 56-year-old father-in-law, Marek Garstka, who was attacked while lying down. Rzeszowski then attacked his wife Izabela and their children, five-year-old Kinga and two-year-old Kacper.

Marta de la Haye, a friend of Izabela, and Marta's five-year-old daughter Julia were also present at the home. Both were killed during the attack.

All six victims died from multiple stab wounds. The entire killing spree unfolded within approximately 15 minutes.

Rzeszowski used two kitchen knives to attack his victims inside the family's home.

The killings were concentrated within a single location and occurred during a sudden, violent episode rather than a series of separate attacks. The victims included members of Rzeszowski's immediate family as well as his wife's father and two family friends.

The court ultimately found that Rzeszowski had intended to kill the victims but that his responsibility was substantially diminished by his mental state at the time of the attacks.

After the killings, Rzeszowski stabbed himself in the chest and was taken to hospital. Police subsequently arrested him and kept him under guard while he received treatment.

He was formally charged with six murders later in August 2011. The victims were identified as Izabela Rzeszowska, Kinga Rzeszowska, Kacper Rzeszowski, Marek Garstka, Marta de la Haye and Julia de la Haye.

Rzeszowski was subsequently transferred to Broadmoor Hospital in England for psychiatric treatment. During the investigation and later proceedings, he reported experiencing voices and had limited recollection of the killings.

Rzeszowski's trial began at the Royal Court in St Helier in August 2012. He denied the six murder charges but had previously pleaded guilty to six counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The defence argued that Rzeszowski was suffering from moderate to severe depression accompanied by psychotic symptoms, substantially reducing his responsibility for his actions. The prosecution disputed the extent of his mental impairment and argued that the killings amounted to murder.

On August 24, 2012, Rzeszowski was found guilty of six counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and cleared of murder. The court accepted that his mental state substantially reduced his responsibility, although the judge made clear that he had intended to kill all six victims.

On October 29, 2012, he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for each of the six killings, with the sentences running concurrently.

The killings followed a period of severe marital turmoil. Izabela had told Rzeszowski about her affair and had indicated that she no longer loved him. Rzeszowski responded with an overdose and the couple attempted to reconcile, including their trip to Poland immediately before the massacre.

The court heard that Rzeszowski had experienced significant psychological deterioration before the killings. Psychiatric evidence included reports that he had experienced psychotic symptoms and voices, although the precise nature and timing of those symptoms were disputed during the trial.

The victims were from two Polish families. Rzeszowski killed his wife and children, his father-in-law, his wife's close friend and her young daughter.

Despite being cleared of murder, the sentencing judge stressed the extreme brutality of the attack and said Rzeszowski remained a risk to people with whom he might have relationships.

Rzeszowski was imprisoned at HMP Full Sutton in England. On March 31, 2018, approximately six years into his sentence, he was found hanging in his prison cell. His death was subsequently determined to have been suicide.

Sources:

• States of Jersey Police
• Royal Court of Jersey
• Jersey Probation and Aftercare Service
• Broadmoor Hospital
• HMP Full Sutton
• The Guardian
• ITV News
• Sky News
• Jersey Evening Post