A lecturer brutally attacked by four men now serving lengthy prison sentences has forgiven one after meeting him in prison and seeing how he is trying to turn his life around.
Paul Kohler, his wife Samantha MacArthur and daughter Eloise Kohler visited 33 year-old cage fighter Mariusz Tomaszewski in prison where he’s serving 13 years for the attack.
Moving on: Paul Kohler with daughter Eloise, who saved his life by dialling 999. Pictured in their Kings Road home.
The meeting, as part of a restorative justice programme, saw brave Mr Kohler and Ms MacArthur sit face-to-face with Tomaszewski and a mediator in a Cambridgeshire prison.
Mr Kohler, who lives in Kings Road, Wimbledon, where the attack happened in August last year, said: “It was quite scary initially.
“He was obviously terrified.
“Conversation was stilted at first.
“The facilitator from (restorative justice charity) Why Me? was very good making sure there were no gaps and dialogue ensued.”
Polish Tomaszewski apologised to the family early on in the meeting on Monday last week, and spoke about how he was turning his life around in prison by learning English, getting involved in the prison chaplaincy and helping other prisoners.
“He was remorseful and regretful but realistic – He was reflective.
“He knows he failed before and couldn’t make a cast-iron promise he wouldn’t do it again,” Mr Kohler said.
Tomaszewski said he had not been the ring-leader in the attack and was following orders, saying it was a case of mistaken identity.
Mr Kohler, who won a Merton Civic Award this year for his courage in dealing with the attack where he was beaten so badly he was left unrecognisable.
Paul Kohler collects his award at the Antoinette Hotel in Wimbledon in July
From July: Brave and selfless members of the community honoured at Merton Civic Awards 2015
He said: “I’m not sympathetic, I’m sure he has had a tough life and a lot of people do.
“I’m sympathetic to what he wants to do.”
He said Eloise and Ms MacArthur felt stronger after the hour and a half visit, and he was glad they went.
“We would have moved on either way, but it’s nice to forgive someone,” he added.
At least two of the other three burglars are expected to arrange similar visits in the coming months.
A spokeswoman for Why me? said they are delighted to have provided the opportunity for the family to meet one of the attackers.
Why me? provides Restorative Justice to victims throughout England and Wales, and welcomes enquiries from anyone who has been the victim of a crime. This can be done through the website http://www.why-me.org/
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