“I Was Unable to Defend Alexander”—Grandfather’s Heartfelt Statement in Court

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Karolina Zurawska, 42, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of her six-year-old son, Alexander Zurawski, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The tragic incident occurred at their home on Cwm Du Close, Swansea, in August 2024.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Ms Zurawska was also sentenced for the attempted murder of her father, Krzysztof Siwy. Court proceedings revealed that on the day Alexander was killed, Ms Zurawska attempted to stab her father on three separate occasions.

Mr Siwy described his daughter as mumbling and absent during his visit that morning. In a witness statement read to the court, he recounted how she reached for a knife and said, “Dad, I must kill you” before slashing his neck. Although he managed to restrain her, he was unable to remove Alexander from the home.

Neighbours discovered Ms Zurawska kneeling beside Alexander with a handsaw at her side at approximately 8:30 pm on 28 August 2024. Witnesses reported hearing screams from the house and found Alexander lying in the hallway. Paramedics attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Swansea Crown Court heard that Ms Zurawska suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which severely impaired her ability to understand her actions at the time.

In a heartfelt impact statement, Krzysztof Siwy said: “Why did this happen? I was able to defend myself, but I was unable to defend Alexander. I was unable to think logically and rationally. If I had called the police, this tragedy would not have happened.

I will have to carry this burden for the rest of my life. My life is no longer as it used to be. I love my daughter, and I do not blame her for what happened. I need to be able to support Karolina, but I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

Judge Paul Thomas QC described the case as “beyond tragic,” emphasising the deep sorrow surrounding Alexander’s death. He said: “Those who know you and your relationship with Alexander have described you as a doting, loving, caring mother.

You are not a wicked mother, far from it – you are a mother whose mental state deteriorated over your care of Alexander. You did something to Alexander that would never have entered your mind had it not been for your mental state.”

The judge agreed with expert psychiatrists that Ms Zurawska requires lifelong medical treatment rather than punishment. “Even if you do recover mentally, the burden of what happened will always be with you,” he said. “I also have a duty to the wider public.

I must ensure that you are only released back to society if and when there is no risk to anyone else, that day, of course, many never come.”

Paying tribute to Alexander, Judge Thomas added: “His brief life was one of bravery, battling health issues. It was a life filled with love given and received, and for those who knew him, he will never be forgotten, and they will never stop loving him.”

Alexander’s family described him as a “very kind child” who was “always well-behaved and never naughty.” They said he was “very clever and very mature for his age,” with a “great understanding of facts.” The family recalled how Alexander was “always helpful, always eager to assist with cooking and cleaning,” and fluent in both English and Polish, often correcting his parents’ English. “He was amazing,” they said.

Whitestone Primary School headteacher Bethan Peterson said Alexander was “an extremely loved and popular boy amongst his peers, staff and with all who knew him. He will be sadly missed by us all.” The school is planning to create a sensory garden in his memory to provide a calming and reflective space for learners.

This tragic case highlights the devastating impact of mental illness and the complexities surrounding criminal responsibility.