Case No. 2306Manslaughter · Co. Kildare · 8 Mar 2023
Damian Szatkowski jailed for six and a half years for manslaughter of housemate Marcel Kusenda in Newbridge
Damian Szatkowski, 38, a Polish national, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his housemate Marcel Kusenda, 48, in Newbridge, Co Kildare, in March 2023, after twice assaulting him and preventing a witness from calling an ambulance.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced17 Feb
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSzatkowski pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on or about March 8, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKusenda was found lying slumped on furniture wrapped in a blanket with facial injuries at a property in Piercetown, Newbridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKusenda was alive but unresponsive and was brought to Naas General Hospital where tests revealed a large subdural hematoma. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe incident involved two episodes of violence, one at around 5pm and another later that same evening. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatSzatkowski returned at about 9pm and struck Kusenda twice in the face with two quick punches to his nose while the injured party was sitting on the floor. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSzatkowski kicked Kusenda three more times in the face near the nose as he tried to get up. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA third individual, an Irish man, inserted a pen into Kusenda's anus while he was unconscious. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDamian Szatkowski pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Marcel Kusenda in Newbridge, Co Kildare on or about 8 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Kusenda was also subject to a sexual assault by a different man not before the court while he lay seriously injured. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Kusenda was alive but unresponsive and was brought to Naas General Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Najder was told by the defendant's girlfriend that Szatkowski had struck Mr Kusenda two times in the nose. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAs the deceased tried to get up, Szatkowski kicked him three more times in the face near the nose. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Najder was afraid to call for an ambulance because the accused was very angry and threatened him not to do so. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMr Kusenda was found at a property in Piercetown, Newbridge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenAn ambulance crew was dispatched to the house at about lunchtime on March 8, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenAn ambulance crew was dispatched to the house at around lunchtime on 8 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe postmortem by State Pathologist Heidi Okkers found the cause of death was complications of blunt force head injury with no other contributory factors. (irishtimes.com)
- causeTests revealed a large subdural hematoma, a blood clot in the brain. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe post-mortem by Dr Heidi Okkers found the cause of death was complications of blunt force head injury with no other contributory factors. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Szatkowski first went into custody in April 2023. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSzatkowski has 61 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKusenda was originally from Slovakia but had been resident in Ireland for two decades. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKusenda had been living at the Newbridge house for eight years and Szatkowski had moved in shortly before the fatal incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSzatkowski is unemployed and has been living in Ireland for more than 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSzatkowski's previous convictions include section 2 assault, criminal damage and possession of offensive weapons. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSzatkowski has 61 previous convictions including Section 2 assault, criminal damage and possession of offensive weapons. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Kusenda was originally from Slovakia but had been resident in Ireland for two decades. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Kusenda had been living at the Newbridge house for eight years and Szatkowski had moved in shortly before the fatal incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSzatkowski is unemployed and has been living in Ireland for over 15 years. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Feb2025Man jailed after killing housemate and stopping witness from calling ambulance
Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon; includes details of the two assaults, the witness being threatened, a sexual assault by a third man, and the victim impact statement.
victim, Marcel Kusenda, 48, male, Slovak, non-irishMarcel Kusendaconvicted, Damian Szatkowski, 38, male, Polish, named, non-irishDamian Szatkowski - 17 Feb2025Man who admitted killing housemate and prevented ambulance being called jailed for 6½ years
Sentencing report: Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed 6½ years after setting a headline of 10 years and reducing for mitigation including the guilty plea and letter of apology. Sentence backdated to April 2023 when Szatkowski first went into custody.
victim, Marcel Kusenda, 48, male, Slovak, non-irishMarcel Kusendaconvicted, Damian Szatkowski, 38, male, Polish, named, non-irishDamian Szatkowski