the judge [that first condemned the driver], Krzysztof Rawo, emphasised that, after the dehumanisation of social groups, “it is only a small step to violence”. He pointed to the examples of 1930s Germany, the Balkans in the 1990s, and Russia’s recent propaganda against Ukrainians.
Indeed…
The first judge made the right call
However, in April this year, the district court in Gorzów Wielkopolski rejected their arguments and ordered the driver to pay a 6,000 zloty (€1,336) fine and 3,000 zloty (€668) compensation for defamation. In his justification, the judge, Krzysztof Rawo, emphasised that, after the dehumanisation of social groups, “it is only a small step to violence”. He pointed to the examples of 1930s Germany, the Balkans in the 1990s, and Russia’s recent propaganda against Ukrainians.
So I would wait for the final appeal, there was just a moronic judge in the second instance.
The problem is PiS is has been doing courts takeover from the top. The constitutional court (the highest instance) is fully under their control. It is easier to get reasonable judgment from the lowest instances, though in this case there is still some chance.