A ‘dangerous’ man appears set to spend a ‘significant time behind bars’ after being found guilty of murder today (Friday).
Lukasz Stachura murdered Kamil Leszczynski after the 33-year-old was discovered near a farm track in fields off Turvey Road, between the villages of Carlton and Turvey.
Stachura 40, of Gold Street, Wellingborough, repeatedly denied responsibility for Mr Leszczynski’s death during a three-week trial despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, but was unanimously found guilty.
Mr Leszczynski’s body was found concealed in a ditch near a single carriageway leading from Carlton Road to The Causeway by a farmer, who contacted police shortly after 4.30pm on July 1.
The victim’s hands were tied with phone chargers, and there was other evidence that he had been seriously assaulted.
An investigation by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crimes Unit was able to trace Stachura’s movements to the day the victim was last seen – Sunday June 27 – with CCTV footage showing him driving through Wellingborough in his red Vauxhall Astra.
Notably, the car was seen with a driver and a passenger matching the descriptions of the two men around 8pm, with further footage showing the two being in the St Thomas Street area shortly before.
Later that evening, between 9 and 11 p.m., Stachura’s phone connected to a telephone mast less than 200 meters from where Mr Leszczynski’s body was found. During that time, the phone had more than 50 text exchanges with Stachura’s partner, as well as one call lasting almost 10 minutes.
CCTV footage then showed the vehicle in the nearby village of Emmaus heading towards Wellingborough shortly after.
Subsequent investigations by detectives revealed that the victim was known to Stachura and that the couple had been involved in a fight in a park five days previously. On that occasion, Stachura was seen knocking Mr. Leszczynski to the ground.
Throughout the trial, he insisted his car was stolen and was being used by someone else.
However, he was found guilty unanimously at the end of the trial. He is due to be sentenced later in April.
Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, who led the investigation, said: ‘Throughout this trial, our thoughts have been with Kamil’s family and friends, who have been subjected to the rigors of a trial in due to Stachura’s baseless insistence on his innocence.
“Despite substantial evidence, he continued to peddle a fictitious situation that he was the subject of a conspiracy to entrap him. Our thorough investigations have proven his claims to be unfounded and purely a selfish attempt to avoid justice. and I am grateful to the jury for having seen through its self-serving lies.
“I would like to thank the brave witnesses who came forward to help paint a picture of Stachura and allow us to establish how he knew his victim and the interaction between the couple in the days leading up to the incident.
“This dangerous man now faces a significant fate behind bars and our communities are undoubtedly safer with him removed from society.”
In a tribute to Mr Leszczynski – also from Wellingborough – his family described him as ‘cheerful and loving’.
They said, “Kamil was a wonderful person and a wonderful brother.
“He was a cheerful and affectionate man. He loved his sister and was always caring and supportive towards her.
“He will be missed by all of his family and friends.”
More about this article: Read More
Source: www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-04-08 15:46:07
