Toughness contests are a traditional part of Polish recreational life," Regional Prosecutor Stefan Wojcelski told a court in Stargard Szczeciski, "and the state has no wish to interfere with a playful tradition. But, while we accept amputation as an inevitable part of this we do not accept murder, and I therefore ask for the heaviest penalites to be broiguth against the three accused.
Wojcelski, who was leading the prosecution of three men accused of manslaughter, explained what had happened. "The three men had been drinking solidly all afternoon in the garden of Krzysztofy Azninski, the dead man. They put on traditional toughness bonnets and began a contest. At first they played breath holding contests. Then they hit each other with blocks of wood and banged nails into their own flesh. But then Franciszek Zyzcoszusko put his hand on a chopping block, and dared Krzysztof A to cut it off. Krzysztof A hacked at it with ihis own knife partially severing the wrist then pout his own head on the block and challenged Franciszek Z to chop it off. Franciszek Z beheaded him with an axe. The three (remaining) men decided things had gone too far, stopped the contest, and began singing a folksong "Roll the head of the giant" which woke the neighbours. Thats when they were observed burying the body in the garden."
The three accused pleaded not guilty on grounds of drunkeness.
(PAP [Polish News Agency], 25/10/94, printed in Private Eye.)
