Murder accused lodger said OAP had heart attack
77-year-old found with injuries to her head and body
A 77-YEAR-OLD woman who rented her bedroom to a lodger accused of murdering her suffered 14 broken ribs and a ruptured heart, a trial heard yesterday.
Roman Frackiewicz, 44, is on trial for the alleged murder of Jadwiga Szczygielska.
The jury heard the accused phoned an acquaintance to tell him Jadwiga had “passed away” and it was “probably a heart attack”. Frackiewicz, who paid £200 a month to rent the only bedroom in her Edinburgh flat, was described as sounding “calm and normal”. At the first day of his trial at the city’s High Court, Frackiewicz denied
murdering
Jadwiga on April 17 last year by repeatedly inflicting, or causing to be inflicted, blunt force injuries to her head and body.
Dr Ian Wilkinson, 39, a consultant forensic pathologist, told the jury Jadwiga suffered 14 rib fractures along with a heart rupture and two collapsed lungs. The injuries, he added, “might be expected to be seen in a road traffic collision”.
PC Idrees Duffy, 27, gave evidence of attending the scene and speaking to Frackiewicz outside the flat in Pirniefield Bank. The police officer said the accused told him he’d been drinking the previous night with Jadwiga and both went to bed separately at about 10pm.
Frackiewicz said he’d awoken at 7am and found her on the floor, the officer added.
Earlier, advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, prosecuting, read the jury a joint minute agreed by the Crown and defence.
Mr Prentice said it was accepted Frackiewicz remained overnight in the flat between April 17 and 18 last year. It was further accepted Jadwiga returned “uninjured” at 2.40pm on April 17 and didn’t leave the property again.
The trial continues.