DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals recently upheld a light jail sentence given to a young woman who fatally injured her father in a tragic incident linked to an argument over transportation. Megan Imirowicz, now 21, was sentenced in 2023 for killing her father, Konrad Imirowicz, 64, by throwing lye, a hazardous substance, on him when he was unable to drive her to a hair appointment just before her 18th birthday. She had been feeling frustrated because he was intoxicated.
In 2023, Imirowicz received a sentence of one year in jail but was released immediately, having already spent approximately 17 months behind bars prior to her trial and sentencing. The sentencing guidelines indicated that she should have faced a minimum of over four years in prison; however, Judge Victoria Valentine of Oakland County decided to impose a lighter sentence, taking into account Imirowicz’s age, her maturity level, and her potential for rehabilitation. This decision was met with disapproval from prosecutors, who argued for a harsher punishment.
“The trial court provided ample justification for the sentence imposed,” the appeals court stated in a unanimous 3-0 opinion on Tuesday. The judges agreed that while the victim suffered severe chemical burns resulting in his death, this alone did not indicate misuse of discretion by the sentencing judge.
At the time of her sentencing, Imirowicz defended herself against the accusations, claiming, “The prosecutors tried to make me look like a monster, but that’s not me and never was.” During her statements, she expressed that her father was her “best friend.” Currently, she is on probation and is expected to fulfill this requirement until July 2028.
After the incident, Prosecutors revealed that the chemical burns sustained by Konrad Imirowicz required him to undergo kidney dialysis, a tracheotomy, and resulted in both of his legs being amputated. Tragically, he passed away five months later as a result of his injuries.
