Latest news with #OperationHarker
Sky News
28-03-2025
- Sky News
Marcin Majerkiewicz: Man who murdered pensioner and dismembered his body jailed for life
A man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 34 years for murdering a pensioner and dismembering his body with a hacksaw. Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, bludgeoned Stuart Everett with a hammer at the house they shared in Salford, Greater Manchester, overnight between 27 and 28 March last year. He used a hacksaw to dismember the 67-year-old, cutting him into 27 pieces, before taking the body parts in plastic bags on bus journeys across Salford and Manchester to dump the evidence. Police say the Polish father-of-two had an obsession with gore and gruesome horror, as well as a tattoo of slasher-film character Jason from the horror franchise Friday the 13th. Majerkiewicz denied responsibility for the killing but offered no evidence in his defence. His motive remains unclear. Jurors convicted him of murder following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court. On Friday, he was jailed at the same court for life with a minimum term of 34 years. The court heard that, while former civil servant Mr Everett was murdered overnight between 27 and 28 March last year, police were only alerted after his torso was found at Kersal Dale nature reserve in Salford on 4 April. Police scoured CCTV and found that two days before the discovery, a man entered the wooded area carrying a heavy blue bag and left shortly after without it. His identity was unknown. But three weeks later, Majerkiewicz was spotted by an officer working on the case who drove past him by chance and noticed his resemblance to the man from the CCTV. 2:07 When police searched Majerkiewicz's address, they found evidence of blood on a carpet and furniture and an attempted clean-up after the killing and dismemberment. After discovering the torso, police launched Operation Harker, which found evidence in 15 crime scenes and human remains at five different sites. Only a third of Mr Everett's body has been recovered. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
BBC News
22-03-2025
- BBC News
Stuart Everett: Killer who cut up housemate caught in chance sighting
A chance sighting by police helped catch the killer who murdered and dismembered his housemate before scattering body parts across Greater Majerkiewicz has been found guilty of murdering 67-year-old Stuart Everett in a case that sparked a huge investigation and saw remains found in six locations across the were initially alerted when the victim's torso was found by a member of the public in Salford woodland on 4 April 2024 - before CCTV revealed how, two days before, a man had entered the area carrying a heavy blue bag and emerging shortly afterwards without was seen carrying a bag for life, visibly struggling as he passed it between his hands, before taking time to rest. The weight of the gruesome contents was later proven to be about 18 kg (39.6 lbs).Yet the key to the case came three weeks after the torso police officers were driving along Eccles Old Road attempting to find further CCTV when, by chance, they spotted someone who they believed to be the suspect carrying the bag from the earlier followed Majerkiewicz as he boarded a bus, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder. The 42-year-old told officers they had made a "mistake 100%" as he was arrested, but the evidence soon proved overwhelming. Who was victim Stuart Everett and how did he meet his killer? Mr Everett first met Majerkiewicz while teaching English to recently arrived Polish had worked for both the NHS and Department for Work and Pensions and was known as "Benny" to his family. Mr Everett was not married and had no children, and was a fan of "Rat Pack" singers Dean Martin and Frank also enjoyed gardening, cricket and a bet on 2013 he began living in a three-bed terraced house on Worsley Road in the Winton area of Everett began sub-letting the two other bedrooms, with Majerkiewicz moving in during 2017. Why did Majerkiewicz murder Stuart Everett? Majerkiewicz had worked as a manager at fast food shops in the Trafford Centre but was unemployed at the time of the murder, with financial pressures building in the household and the killer finding himself about £60,000 in debt.A father-of-two with his Polish ex-partner, he denied responsibility for the killing but offered no evidence in his while his motive remains unclear, Majerkiewicz was found to have an obsession with gore and gruesome horror and a tattoo of slasher-film character Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, police Supt Lewis Hughes said he had a "fixation with horror and gore" but the team had "not confirmed any clear motive", adding: "These are all relevant factors in what may have been going on, financial issues, debt, problems paying the bills, potentially a relationship between the two of them." Victim suffered 'severe blunt force' attack After the torso was discovered, police launched Operation Harker, and went on to find human remains in six different also dumped remains a short walk from his home address beside a of skull fragments showed Mr Everett had been subject to a "sustained, severe blunt force physical assault", with repeated blows to his head, shattering and fracturing his skull. Bloodstained carpet and an attempted clean-up When police searched Majerkiewicz's address in Winton, Salford, they found evidence of blood on a carpet and furniture and an attempted clean-up of the was heavy bloodstaining in Majerkiewicz's bedroom, suggesting Mr Everett was attacked and cut up in that call history showed he called a man with a van for help in removing furniture from the property and a sofa bed and a fridge freezer were taken to a lock up in Bury. Following DNA testing and forensic examinations under UV light, Stuart's blood was found on the sofa bed, which is believed to be where he was killed. The fridge freezer also contained his Majerkiewicz's police interview, he provided minimal information to detectives. Fake birthday card sent to victim's family During the three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court, the jury heard Mr Everett's family initially had no idea he was dead. Majerkiewicz had taken control of his victim's finances, his mobile phone and even sent text messages and a birthday card to his family pretending to be him. Before his arrest, the court heard how Majerkiewicz has been searching online for properties to rent in Alicante. The case involved crime scenes across Manchester and Salford but only about one third of Mr Everett's body has been Sgt Danielle Bullivant helped to organise the searches for Mr Everett's remains at the Blackleach reservoir in Walkden."I've been doing this job for 18 years and every day I work on murders, it is my day job, but I've never worked on anything like this," she Supt Lewis Hughes, the senior investigating officer, said: "We like to think we've left no stone unturned and hopefully got some sort of justice for Stuart Everett and his family."Trial judge Mr Justice Cavanagh told Majerkiewicz, he faces a mandatory life sentence but he will be made subject to a minimum term behind who made no reaction as the jury found him guilty, will be sentenced on Friday 28 March. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Every clue, breakthrough and piece of evidence in the Stuart Everett murder investigation
For weeks, police desperately searched for clues as more body parts were discovered. Horrifying finds were made at beauty spots across Greater Manchester, areas popular with walkers and wildlife lovers. Green areas became crime scenes and officers in white boiler suits became a common sight. Huge areas were shut off as an intense and wide-ranging murder probe moved at pace. Eventually, 67-year-old Stuart Everett was identified as the victim of a horrendous killing. Officers meticulously pieced together thousands of hours of CCTV footage to track down his killer. Only about a third of his body has been recovered. But the searches yielded enough evidence to convict 42-year-old Marcin Majerkiewicz of Stuart's murder. These are the key moments in Operation Harker, the codename given to the probe into the grisly case… March 27/28, 2024 - Stuart Everett was believed to have been murdered late into the 27th or in the early hours of the 28th by Marcin Majerkiewicz, at the home they shared on Worsley Road. March 28 - Stuart's phone sent a WhatsApp message to his housemate Michal Polchowski, saying he was going to his brother's home in Derby for Easter. Prosecutors later claimed this was in fact Majerkiewicz using Stuart's phone. March 28 - Marcin Majerkiewicz was seen to travel from his home to nearby Worsley Woods. No body parts found. March 28 - Majerkiewicz was seen on footage to travel to Chesterfield Close. March 29 - Majerkiewicz was seen on footage to take the bus to Boggart Hole Clough. March 29 - Majerkiewicz was seen to travel to Linnyshaw Colliery Woods, carrying a bag for life and leaving without it. March 29 - In the evening, Majerkiewicz took the bus to the Trafford Centre and spent £200 at Superdry, £183 at Sketchers and £3 at McDonald's. April 2 - Majerkiewicz was seen walking into Kersal Dale, carrying a bag for life. April 2 - That evening, Majerkiewicz googled 'best remover of stain carpet uk'. April 3 - Phone data placed Majerkiewicz in the area of Blackleach Reservoir, where body parts were later discovered. April 3 - A neighbour noticed black bags being moved from Majerkiewicz's home on Worsley Road. April 4 - Stuart Everett's phone texted Michal Polchowski to say he has had a stroke and was in hospital. Prosecutors said this was Majerkiewicz pretending to be Stuart so it appeared he was still alive. April 4 - A member of the public discovered the first body parts in Kersal Dale, calling 101 at 4.04pm. A lower torso, pelvis and thighs were found. April 5 - Richard Ziemacki, Stuart Everett's brother, received a birthday card from Mr Everett. Majerkiewicz's fingerprints were later found on the card. April 5 - Stuart's landlord received a text from his phone saying he was in hospital in Derby. Prosecutors said it was Majerkiewicz pretending to be Stuart. April 11 - Stuart Everett's phone texted Majerkiewicz's phone to say: "I'm sorry things turned out this way and you are only just finding out. This is what it's like with health. It was bound to happen." April 12 - Majerkiewicz's email account sent a note to Salford Elections saying he was 'moving out'. April 13 - Richard Ziemacki texted his brother encouraging him to put a bet on. He received a reply with a video showing 'miserable weather' with the caption: 'I catch a cold. How you look what weather in Manchester." April 16 - Further messages were sent from Stuart's phone about the practicalities of moving house. A skip was booked in his name. April 19 - A large white van was seen to arrive outside the house on Worsley Road. April 21 - Internet searches were made on Stuart's phone including: 'Police return to Kersal Dale as searches continue', 'Kersal Dale', 'Kersal Dale photos', and on ITV's website 'Murder arrest after human torso found wrapped in plastic in nature reserve', 'bail' and 'meaning of bail'. April 22 - Majerkiewicz was seen loading items into the skip during the morning. A hacksaw and a blood stained piece of carpet were later found in the skip. Further online searches were made on Stuart's phone on the Manchester Evening News website for 'Police return to Kersal Dale as searches continue'. Then a further search for the 'police public portal'. April 23 - Majerkiewicz was seen putting items into the skip. April 24 - Majerkiewicz sent a video to his partner of the inside of the house on Worsley Road, with an ongoing commentary in Polish. Majerkiewicz could be heard saying that he had 'cleaned everything very nice'. April 25 - Majerkiewicz was arrested at 1.12pm after being spotted by police. April 28 - Bones, muscle tissue, and parts of skull and part of a neck were found wrapped in cling film at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods. A further recovery was made on May 1, of the front and back of a skull, and some skin. A hacksaw was discovered in the reservoir by an underwater search team on May 2. April 28 - Body parts including the skull, scalp, left ear and part of the face were discovered at Blackleach Reservoir. April 29 - Polchowski and Majerkiewicz both appeared before magistrates accused of murder and are remanded in custody. April 29 - body parts found at land off Chesterfield Close in Eccles. Three bin bags containing human remains were recovered. One contained thigh skin and muscle, genitalia, part of the lung and skin. A second bag contained a kidney, skin and further muscle. A third bag contained the heart and part of the right lung. April 30 - Stuart Everett was publicly identified as the victim for the first time. May 1 - A further recovery was made at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods, of the front and back of a skull, and some skin. May 2 - A hacksaw was discovered in the reservoir at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods by an underwater search team. May 27 - A section of spinal column was recovered from Boggart Hole Clough. July 22 - Police find a black bin bag at Worsley Woods containing Stuart's DNA. No body parts were discovered there. July 23 - GMP announced that searches in relation to Stuart Everett's murder, which began on April 4 with the first discovery at Kersal Dale and lasted almost four months, had concluded. February 4, 2025 - During a hearing at Manchester Crown Court prosecutors offer no evidence against Michal Polchowski, 68, who had been charged with murder. He had spent nine months on remand in prison before the allegation against him was dropped. Reporting restrictions, since lifted following an application by the Manchester Evening News, were imposed at the time to prevent reporting of the decision. Majerkiewicz then faced the murder charge alone. March 3, 2025 - Six men and six women were sworn in at Manchester Crown Court as the jury for the murder trial. The trial started the following day. March 21 - Majerkiewicz found unanimously guilty of murder. March 28 - Majerkiewicz to face sentencing hearing, where he will get life in prison.
