European Court of Human Rights

FOURTH SECTION

DECISION

Application no. 3605/06
by Krzysztof PIKUŁA
against Poland

The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 8 July 2008 as a Chamber composed of:

Giovanni Bonello, President,
Lech Garlicki,
Ljiljana Mijović,
David Thór Björgvinsson,
Ján Šikuta,
Ledi Bianku,
Mihai Poalelungi, judges,
and Lawrence Early, Section Registrar,

Having regard to the above application lodged on 11 January 2006,

Having regard to the Court’s decision to examine jointly the admissibility and merits of the case (Article 29 § 3 of the Convention),

Having regard to the formal declarations accepting a friendly settlement of the case,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

THE FACTS

The applicant, Mr Krzysztof Pikuła, is a Polish national who was born in 1960 and lives in Rejowiec Fabryczny. The Polish Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Mr J.Wołąsiewicz of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The circumstances of the case

The facts of the case, as submitted by the parties, may be summarised as follows.

On 10 May 2000 the applicant was arrested by the police. On 12 May 2002 the Chełm District Court remanded the applicant in custody on suspicion of homicide.

The applicant’s detention was subsequently extended on numerous occasions. The courts repeatedly relied on the severity of the anticipated penalty and the need to secure the proper conduct of the proceedings.

In the course of the investigation the Regional Prosecutor obtained voluminous evidence and took a series of investigative measures.

On 10 July 2000 the prosecution service filed a bill of indictment with the Lublin Regional Court. The applicant was charged with two counts of homicide and armed robbery. There were four other defendants in the case.

On 20 March 2001 the Regional Court again extended the applicant’s detention. It repeated the reasons given previously. It further held that the applicant’s detention was the only measure which could secure the proper conduct of the proceedings.

On 23 September 2002 the Lublin Regional Court convicted the applicant as charged and sentenced him to 25 years’ imprisonment. Upon the applicant’s appeal, on 22 October 2003 the Lublin Court of Appeal quashed the judgment of the Regional Court and ordered a retrial.

The applicant’s detention was extended on further occasions. In all decisions the Regional Court relied on the reasonable suspicion that the applicant had committed the offences in question and the likelihood of a heavy sentence being imposed.

On 5 October 2005 the Court of Appeal ordered the applicant’s release under police supervision. It also imposed a ban on his leaving the country. The applicant was released on 6 October 2005.

It appears that the proceedings are pending before the Lublin Regional Court.

COMPLAINTS

THE LAW

On 11 June 2008 the Court received the following declaration from the Government:

“I declare that the Government of Poland offer to pay PLN 7,000 (seven thousand Polish zlotys) to Mr Krzysztof Pikuła with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above-mentioned case pending before the European Court of Human Rights.

This sum, which is to cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, will be free of any taxes that may be applicable and will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the event of failure to pay this sum within the said three-month period, the Government undertake to pay simple interest on it, from expiry of that period until settlement, at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points. The payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.”

On 12 June 2008 the Court received the following declaration signed by the applicant:

“I note that the Government of Poland are prepared to pay me the sum of PLN 7,000 (seven thousand Polish zlotys) with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the above-mentioned case pending before the European Court of Human Rights.

This sum, which is to cover any pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage as well as costs and expenses, will be free of any taxes that may be applicable and will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court pursuant to Article 37 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. From the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amount at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.

I accept the proposal and waive any further claims against Poland in respect of the facts giving rise to this application. I declare that this constitutes a final resolution of the case.”

The Court takes note of the friendly settlement reached between the parties. It is satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and its Protocols and finds no reasons to justify a continued examination of the application (Article 37 § 1 in fine of the Convention).

For these reasons, the Court unanimously

Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases.

Lawrence Early Giovanni Bonello
Registrar President