Martyna Ogonowska’s case has ignited outrage across the UK, exposing deep flaws in the justice system’s handling of self-defense claims. The 18-year-old woman was sentenced to 17 years in prison for fatally stabbing Filip Jaskiewicz, a man who had sexually assaulted her in a Peterborough car park. The ruling has sparked fierce debate over whether UK law adequately protects victims of sexual violence.
The court acknowledged that Jaskiewicz had “undoubtedly touched [her] sexually and was violent”, yet Judge Farrell QC ruled that her use of a knife disqualified her actions as self-defense. The reasoning? She had brought the weapon with her, a decision born from living in fear after a previous assault. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence on May 9, 2025, dismissing arguments that the UK’s self-defense laws failed to protect victims of sexual violence.
This is a miscarriage of justice. Ogonowska had suffered trauma long before the 2018 incident. At 14 years old, she was raped, an assault that left her with severe PTSD. The perpetrator was never prosecuted, and during her murder trial, prosecutors controversially argued that the earlier assault was consensual—despite Ogonowska being underage. The court relied heavily on Facebook messages rather than a proper criminal investigation, ignoring the grooming dynamics evident in the interactions.
Legal experts and advocacy groups have condemned the ruling. Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, described Ogonowska as a “double victim of a misogynist justice system”, arguing that the prosecution failed to adhere to guidelines on rape myths when Ogonowska became a defendant rather than a victim.
Sources:
https://www.planet-today.com/2025/05/martyna-ogonowska-case-uk-justice.html