Bus driver jailed for student murder

Catherine Zaks, 21, who grew up in Staplecross, was found dead near a railway embankment in Krakow on July 30 last year.

She had been bludgeoned to death with a length of thick rubber pipe.

Bus driver Miroslaw L, 45, was found guilty of murder following a trial in Poland and jailed for 15 years.

His lawyers have already said they will appeal against the conviction in favour of a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Catherine, who had dual British and Polish nationality, had just completed her second year reading History of Art at Canterbury and was staying with Polish relatives in Krakow to allow her to do some work experience at an art gallery.

On the night she died, Catherine, also known as Kate, had fallen asleep on a bus which was being driven by the defendant.

Catherine, the last passenger on Miroslaw’s route, woke up at the last stop.

A row ensued between the pair and the bus driver beat her with the pipe before fleeing.

Catherine’s parents, Greg and Viola Zaks, were present in court to hear the judges pass sentence.

The couple ran the Staplecross Post Office and Stores for about ten years.

Following the death of their only child, who was known locally as Kia, the couple chose to leave the village for their native Poland back in February.

Catherine was a former pupil at both Robertsbridge Community College and Buckswood School in Guestling.