The crime, which included sexual assault and robbery, led to the woman's death days later in a hospital.
The sentence was announced by Judge Paweł Dobosz, who emphasized the severity of the crime and its premeditated nature.
The court ruled that the convicted man, named only as Dorian S., would serve his sentence under a therapeutic system.
Explaining the decision, the judge said that the punishment reflects both the societal harm caused by the crime and the culpability of the perpetrator.
"This sentence expresses condemnation of a person who violated the most precious human rights: freedom and life," he said.
The court also sided with social organizations involved in the trial, which urged that the focus be on the victim, named Liza, rather than the perpetrator.
'We must forget the accused as quickly as possible'
"We must forget the accused as quickly as possible,” Judge Dobosz said. "He should be erased from memory so that the evil he committed does not become the subject of films or documentaries. It was Liza who endured pain, terror, and death.”
Dorian S., who was 23 at the time, admitted to the crime during the brief six-week trial but denied intending to kill the woman.
Evidence presented in court demonstrated that he had planned the attack, purchasing a knife and a balaclava beforehand, with the intent to commit a crime.
After encountering Liza, he stalked her, forcibly took her into a building, rendered her unconscious, and proceeded to rape her. The victim's purse yielded the assailant only PLN 60 (USD 15).
According to Judge Dobosz, the motive for the crime was primarily sexual.
"He acted deliberately to satisfy his sexual impulses, rendering the victim defenseless before proceeding with the assault," the judge said, and added that the perpetrator undertook "actions which were entirely rational from the perspective of the goal he had set out to achieve."
'This penalty reflects the cruelty of the crime'
Prosecutor Hanna Stachowicz expressed satisfaction with the verdict, which matched the prosecution’s request for the harshest possible sentence.
"This penalty reflects the cruelty of the crime and serves as proof that the justice system treats such serious offenses with the utmost severity,” Stachowicz said.
The defense has announced plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that the trial's swift pace compromised its fairness.
Defense attorney Patryk Wrycza claimed the court did not adequately assess whether the accused's mental state at the time of the crime might have diminished his responsibility.
"Expedited proceedings do not always align with due diligence, especially in cases of such gravity,” Wrycza argued.
The crime occurred in central Warsaw, where Liza was attacked and left unconscious in a building entrance. Despite receiving medical attention, she succumbed to her injuries several days later.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP