Damian Rzeszowski, Family Killer, Granted Appeal Hearing Against 21-Year Minimum Term

Damian Rzeszowski, who admitted to the manslaughter of six people in Jersey in 2011, including his wife and two young children, has been granted permission to appeal against the 21-year minimum term he received for the killings. The Court of Appeal is scheduled to convene in November to deliberate on whether the sentence should be adjusted, with submissions expected from both the defence and the prosecution regarding a potential reduction or an extension of the term.

Rzeszowski was convicted of the manslaughter of his wife, Izabela Rzeszowska; their children, five-year-old Filip and two-year-old Kacper; his father-in-law, Marek Garstka; and family friend Marta de la Haye and her five-year-old daughter, Julia. The incident, which saw Rzeszowski attack the victims with a knife, occurred following a barbecue at his home.

Originally, Rzeszowski had denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility due to a depressive episode, but this was rejected by the jury. He was subsequently found guilty of manslaughter. The upcoming appeal hearing will scrutinise the proportionality of the original sentence, a process that continues to draw considerable public and legal attention on the island.