A MAN was acquitted by a jury of three charges he had denied – and then wished the judge “Merry Christmas” after the verdicts were returned.
Michal Pawel Swidzinski, 32, went on trial at Carlisle Crown Court earlier this week.
He denied three charges arising out of separate alleged incidents in Penrith earlier this year.
One had alleged that Mr Swidzinski assaulted Rebecca Greenhow in the town centre during the early hours of March 18. Another alleged he perverted the course of justice, on June 27, during a conversation with the same female. He also stood accused of “intimidating” her, on September 14.
During the trial, Mrs Greenhow alleged in evidence that Mr Swidzinski, of Victoria Road, Penrith, “threatened to blow up my house if I attended court”.
But Mr Swidzinski strenuously denied all of the claims.
Giving evidence from the witness box, he said: “I disagree with the alleged allegations made by Rebecca.”
Mr Swidzinski insisted it was she who had assaulted him when the pair came together in Devonshire Street in March. “I have never touched her in my life,” he told jurors.
“Right now, this situation, so far I am the victim.”
And today (THURS), Mr Swidzinski was found not guilty, unanimously, of all three charges by a jury of seven women and five men. As a result, Judge Peter Davies directed that he be discharged from the dock.
But as the hearing concluded, Polish national Swidzinski said to the judge through his interpreter: “I think that this matter has been carried out in a high level during this trial.”
He added: “I would like to thank Your Honour and all the court staff. Merry Christmas.”
