The Gdańsk Court of Appeal has upheld a 25-year prison sentence for 34-year-old Natalia Ż. and 37-year-old Adrian C., found guilty of the brutal murder of Natalia’s 36-year-old husband in Malbork in 2021. The court confirmed that the murder was meticulously planned by Natalia, with Adrian, her lover, carrying out the fatal attack.
The crime occurred in late October 2021, when the victim was visiting friends with his wife in Malbork. According to the investigation, Natalia lured her husband outside under the pretense of retrieving items from their car. As he returned to the building, Adrian, disguised and waiting, ambushed the man, delivering multiple knife wounds, including several to the chest. The victim succumbed to severe internal and external bleeding.
Investigators determined that Natalia masterminded the murder, driven by a desire to inherit her husband’s wealth, which she feared losing due to his contemplation of divorce. Adrian, motivated by a desire to please Natalia and maintain their relationship, agreed to execute the plan.
Both were arrested in December 2021, and during the trial, the prosecution argued that the murder was committed with direct intent and in cooperation between the two, initially citing extreme cruelty and reprehensible motives. However, the first-instance court in Gdańsk later removed these aggravating factors from the charges.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered Adrian C. to pay 100,000 PLN in compensation to the victim’s minor son. The verdict, now final, brings a close to a case that shocked the local community.