Latest news with #StuartEverett
The Independent
28-03-2025
- The Independent
‘Body parts' killer jailed for life for murder of pensioner housemate
A Polish man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years for the murder and dismemberment of a pensioner he sawed into 27 pieces. Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, who police say had an obsession with gore and gruesome horror and has a tattoo of slasher-film character Jason from Friday The 13th, bludgeoned Stuart Everett with a hammer at the house they shared in Winton, Salford. The defendant then used a hacksaw to dismember his 67-year-old friend and housemate, described as a jolly, friendly, mild-mannered man. He also flayed the face off Mr Everett's skull before taking body parts in plastic bags on bus journeys across Salford and Manchester to dump the evidence. Majerkiewicz, a father-of-two with his Polish ex-partner, denied responsibility for the killing in March last year, but offered no evidence in his defence. Jurors convicted him last Friday of the murder in under two hours of deliberations following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court. The court heard he almost got away with it after disposing of the body, tricking Mr Everett's family that he was still alive and planning to flee abroad. But a 'great piece of luck' and dogged police work led to his arrest. Trial judge Mr Justice Cavanagh told Majerkiewicz, who made no reaction as he was jailed, it was pre-planned murder for gain, to steal Mr Everett's money to pay off the killer's spiralling debts. He said: 'You acted in an almost unbelievably cold-blooded and macabre way and showed complete disrespect and contempt for your friend's remains. 'This denied dignity to Stuart Everett even in death and greatly increased the pain suffered by Stuart Everett's family when the murder came to light.' Retired civil servant Mr Everett was murdered overnight between March 27 and 28 last year. But police were only alerted after his torso was found by a member of the public at Kersal Dale nature reserve in Salford on April 4. Police scoured CCTV from the area and discovered, two days before, a man entering the wooded area carrying a heavy blue bag and emerging 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 noted he looked like the man from the CCTV. The killer was arrested. When police searched his address in Winton, Salford, they found evidence of blood on a carpet and furniture and an attempted clean-up after the killing and dismemberment. Only a third of Mr Everett's body has been recovered. Born Roman Ziemacki to Polish parents who came to the UK after surviving two years in a Russian concentration camp and settled in Derby, Mr Everett first met his killer while teaching English to recently arrived Polish immigrants in Manchester. Mr Everett had worked for the NHS and Department for Work and Pensions, was known as 'Benny' to his family, was not married and had no children, and was a fan of 'Rat Pack' singers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. He also enjoyed gardening, cricket and a bet on horses. His brother Richard Ziemacki, in a victim impact statement read to the court, said: 'It's extremely difficult to put into words how much I miss him. Seeing my brother on CCTV and listening to his voice for the last time will be moments that will live with me forever – I have no words other than absolutely horrendous. 'Every day we have sat watching in disbelief as the evidence unfolded and clearly shown the way my brother's end had been planned and orchestrated by an incredibly devious, monstrous individual.' In 2013, Mr Everett began living in a three-bed terrace house on Worsley Road in the Winton area of Salford. He began sub-letting the two other bedrooms to two Polish men, Michal Polchowsk, 68, with the other, Majerkiewicz, moving in during 2017. The defendant 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 with Majerkiewicz owing £60,000 in loan debt and £14,000 on credit cards. After the initial torso discovery, police launched Operation Harker, finding evidence in 15 crime scenes and human remains at five different sites. Detectives pieced together thousands of hours of CCTV, tracking the defendant's movements, also discovering human remains at Linnyshaw Colliery Woods, Blackleach Reservoir, Worsley Woods and Boggart Hole Clough. Majerkiewicz also dumped parts a short walk from his home address beside a canal, and on one occasion he had a KFC meal immediately after dumping body parts. Pathology of the 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. In Majerkiewicz's bedroom there was heavy bloodstaining, suggesting Mr Everett was attacked and dismembered in that room. The third occupant of the house, food-processing factory worker Mr Polchowski, was living at the address at the time of the murder and dismemberment. A murder charge against him was later dropped. Mr Everett's family initially had no idea he was dead. Majerkiewicz had assumed use of his finances and his mobile phone, even sending text messages and a birthday card to his family purporting to be from Mr Everett. He had been searching online for properties to rent in the Alicante area of Spain before his arrest. Mr Justice Cavanagh praised Greater Manchester Police for 'truly outstanding' work on the case.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Dramatic images show aftermath of devastating fire on Greater Manchester moor
Vast areas of moorland have been left charred at a Greater Manchester beauty spot following a fire overnight. Crews were called out to Blackstone Edge reservoir, near Littleborough, at around 9.45pm on Thursday (March 27) and worked for nine hours at the scene. Images from Thursday night showed flames soaring above the ground, with the blaze visible for several miles around. READ MORE: Your mornings are going to get more miserable, but 'it has to be done' READ MORE: LIVE Marcin Majerkiewicz sentenced to life for killing housemate Stuart Everett and dismembering body - updates It sparked a major response from firefighters in both Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. The fire was the second to hit the moors near Blackstone Edge in less than 36 hours, after a blaze broke out on Wednesday afternoon (March 26). Further details about the cause of Thursday's fire are yet to be confirmed, but Greater Manchester Police does not believe it to be linked to Wednesday's fire, which is being investigated as arson. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: 'Shortly before 9:45pm yesterday evening (Thursday, March 27 2025) two fire engines from Rochdale and Bolton North Fire Stations were called to attend a fire on moorland near Blackstone Edge Reservoir, Littleborough. "Firefighters arrived quickly and worked alongside colleagues from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to extinguish large parts of the fire." Crews remained in attendance until around 7am today. A GMFRS spokesperson added: "Crews have now extinguished the fire and ensured no hot spots remain. "Firefighters were in attendance for approximately nine hours." A teenager was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with Wednesday's fire at Blackstone Edge. GMP has been approached for an update. In a video message posted today following the two fires at Blackstone Edge, Greater Manchester firefighters said: "Wildfires cause serious damage to wildlife and use a lot of fire service resources to put out. "We want to remind you to act responsibly on the moors. No fires, no barbecues, no fireworks and no discarded cigarettes. Watch our video with the crew from one of our wildfire stations, as they share some important prevention messages.#BeMoorAware — Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) March 28, 2025 "When you're out in the countryside, put your rubbish in the bins provided. If you see a fire, call 999 and ask for the fire service." To report a deliberate fire anonymously, call FireStoppers on 0800 169 5558 or visit the website.
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.
Sky News
21-03-2025
- Sky News
Man found guilty of murdering pensioner - whose dismembered body was scattered across Manchester
A man has been found guilty of murdering a pensioner whose body parts were found scattered across Greater Manchester last year. Warning: This article contains details readers may find distressing Stuart Everett's torso was found wrapped in clear plastic by a passer-by in Kersal Dale Wetlands on 4 April last year. More remains were found at other sites - after police searched 16 separate locations. Marcin Majerkiewicz pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and manslaughter in July last year. The 42-year-old shared a home with Mr Everett in Winton along with one other man. It is thought the 67-year-old, originally from Derby and born Roman Ziemacki to Polish parents, was killed between 27 and 28 March last year. A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard that the pensioner's body was dismembered into 27 pieces using a hacksaw and serrated blade. Mr Everett was bludgeoned to death with a hammer-type weapon, with severe injuries to his head and skull, according to a Home Office pathologist. Jurors were told that only about one-third of his body had been recovered. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
