Honorary Polish Consul To Monaco Charged In Killing Of Mother-In-Law, Real Estate Heiress

The honorary Polish consul to Monaco is accused of hiring hit men in the May 6 shotgun killing of his mother-in-law, real-estate heiress Helene Pastor.

Wojciech Janowski, 64, allegedly hired two hit men from Marseille to kill Pastor and her chauffeur as she left a Nice hospital, Radio France Internationale reported Saturday.

Investigators say Janowski allegedly recruited the purported hit men through his personal trainer, Pascal Dauriac, and paid 200,000 euros ($272,000) in cash and 50,000 euros ($68,000) in gifts. The money supposedly came from an offshore account in Dubai, withdrawn in nine transactions from April 22 to May 4. French Prosecutor Brice Robin said Janowski wanted to "lay his hands on the inheritance" his partner, Sylvia Pastor, would get.

Prosecutors said Sylvia Pastor, Helene Pastor's oldest daughter, feels betrayed by Janowski, RFI reported. "She is in a very difficult psychological state," Robin said.

RFI said seven people have been charged with the killing. The triggermen were found because of closed-circuit television footage, cell-phone data and traces of DNA in the Nice hotel room they occupied on the day of the shooting.

Helene Pastor was heir to a real-estate and building empire built by her Italian grandfather, Jean-Baptiste Pastor, and father, Gildo Pastor, who won permission from Prince Rainier to develop high-rises along the seafront of the Mediterranean principality.

Janowski, who was fired as honorary Polish consul, admitted his involvement, Agence France-Presse reported Friday.

The Polish Foreign Ministry said it was firing Janowski because "the loss of the irreproachable reputation that is essential for this role" has been lost. Janowski does not have diplomatic immunity, AFP said.