Pair face extradition over man's disappearance

Andrzej Mucha lived in Slough when he was last seen in November 2021

Two men will be extradited to Poland to face trial over the disappearance of a Polish man who went missing four years ago.

Andrzej Mucha, who was 57, lived in Greystoke Road in Slough, Berkshire, when he was last seen in November 2021.

He was classified as a missing person until April 2022 when Thames Valley Police started a murder investigation following his unexplained disappearance. His body has never been found.

A High Court appeal on behalf of Tomasz Weiss, previously arrested on suspicion of murder and assault, and Adrian Pietraszewski, previously arrested on suspicion of assault and perverting the course of justice, was dismissed on Wednesday.

Their extradition was ordered at Westminster Magistrates' Court in July 2024.

The pair had been initially due to stand trial at Reading Crown Court in October 2023 but the Crown Prosecution Service agreed with Polish prosecutors to cede jurisdiction to them.

A trial, also involving Mr Pietraszewski's partner Kamila Wojcik and Adrian Nikiel, is sought by the Regional Court in Gliwice, in south-west Poland.

Mr Pietraszewski, Ms Wojcik and Mr Nikiel lived with Mr Mucha in Greystoke Road, while Mr Weiss was "an associate" of Mr Pietraszewski, the High Court heard,

Ms Wojcik and Mr Nikiel were previously charged with offences in Poland including the equivalent of perverting the course of justice and are awaiting trial there.

Mr Justice Hilliard said there were "overwhelming factors that fall in favour of extradition", including Mr Mucha's family's interest, and that a trial in Poland is "practicable and desirable".

Thames Valley Police said it did not want to comment.