A Swedish court in Gothenburg has refused a Polish request for the extradition of a Stalinist-era judge suspected of issuing unlawful death sentences to underground fighters in the 1950s.

Judge Mats Hagelin justified the decision by declaring that the crimes that the former judge, Stefan Michnik, allegedly committed in Poland decades ago were covered by a statute of limitations under Swedish law.

In October, a Polish court issued an European arrest warrant for Michnik, who is suspected of committing 30 crimes “bearing the hallmarks of crimes against humanity” in Warsaw in 1952 and 1953.

The ninety-year-old, who has Swedish citizenship, is the step-brother of Adam Michnik, editor-in-chief of Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper.

(mk/gs)</s>Stefan Gigliotti of West Chester, Pa., formerly of Doylestown, a shining light in many lives, died suddenly on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. He was 28. Born in Langhorne, Stefan was the beloved husband of Magdalena Zielinska Gigliotti, and the youngest son of Chris Gigliotti and Sharon Rodebaugh Gigliotti. Stefan was a graduate of La Salle College High School and West Chester University. He was working at E.A. Berg Associates as an Account Executive and was excited for the opportunity to flourish. His free spirit, big heart, charismatic nature, and contagious laughter, along with his affinity for Air Jordans, are but a few of the many qualities that will be forever held dear. Stefan was known for his ability to make others smile, to offer a helping hand or a kind word, and for his abundant love of his wife, his family and his friends. In addition to his loving wife and parents, he is survived by two brothers, Nicholas and Jason Gigliotti, both of Doylestown; his mother-in-law, Marta Kaminska of Poland; and father-in-law, Slawomir Zielinski of Warminster; his paternal grandmother, Carole Gigliotti of West Palm Beach; and maternal grandmother, Jacqueline Rodebaugh of Doylestown; along with his aunts and uncles. Stefan's bright light will live on in those he held dear. His family will receive relatives and friends from 9 a.m. until his funeral service at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15, at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Ave. (at Sandy Ridge Rd.), New Britain, PA 18901. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stef's memory may be made to: CamCare Health Corporation Fund for "The Stefan Gigliotti Endowed Fund" and mailed to the attention of Mark Roberts, 817 Federal St., Camden, NJ 08103, or to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia for "The Stefan Gigliotti Endowed Fund" and mailed to the attention of Joseph Marziello, 1518 Walnut St., Suite 712, Philadelphia, PA 19102. These funds will help facilitate Stefan's desire to provide hope to disadvantage youth in Philadelphia and surrounding communities through educational, nutritional and recovery services. www.fluehr.com
A Swedish district court rejects the application of a European arrest warrant to extradite from Sweden to Poland a Stalinist-era judge, Stefan Michnik, suspected of issuing unlawful death sentences to underground fighters in the 1950s.