Jury told attacker 'laughed with joy' about beating up Polish man

A POLISH man died from head injuries after he was attacked in the street and repeatedly kicked and stamped on as he lay on the ground, a jury heard.

A passing couple disturbed the assailant who ran off leaving Marius Rogowicz injured in Harehills Road, Leeds, on April 15 last year.

Richard Mansell QC prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday it was the Crown's case the attacker was another Polish national Dawid Grabowski, who within minutes returned to his then home in Karnac Road, Leeds.

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He said Grabowski's sister Zaklin described coming from the bathroom on to the landing and finding her brother "laughing and jumping up and down with joy and boasting about beating up another man."

She also said when their mother Barbara Wisniewska asked him if he had beaten him up badly he replied "No, I kicked him a few times that's all." Both of them allegedly saw blood on his white training shoes which the Crown claimed were later cut up and disposed of.

Mr Mansell told the jury the sister also said her brother described how he considered he and the man were like dogs about to "go sparring".

She said her brother often likened himself to a Staffordshire bull terrier and perceived other people as dogs.

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Grabowski, denies the murder of Mr Rogowicz, also aged 24 in April last year.

His mother, Barbara Wisniewska, 44, now of Ashley Road, Harehills, Leeds, denies assisting an offender by helping him dispose of the trainers.

Mr Mansell said Mr Rogowicz of Markham Avenue, Leeds, had worked as a car valeter at various motor dealerships in the city and there was nothing to suggest he was known to Grabowski.

"The prosecution cannot and does not advance a reason or motive for this attack. "In fact we suggest it was probably motiveless and was simply a case of Mr Rogowicz being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

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He had visited friends at two addresses that evening and after buying a bottle of cider in a newsagents on Harehills Road at about 11pm was walking home when he was attacked.

He died in Leeds General Infirmary from his injuries on April 17.

The trial continues.

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