Debt-ridden Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, murdered Stuart Everett, 67, before dismembering and dumping his body.
A Polish man has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 34 years for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his elderly housemate in Salford.
Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, who had an apparent obsession with horror and gore, was convicted of bludgeoning 67-year-old Stuart Everett to death with a hammer before using a hacksaw to dismember his body into 27 pieces. The gruesome crime, described by the judge as “unbelievably cold-blooded and macabre”, shocked both the police and the local community.
Gruesome killing and dismemberment
Majerkiewicz, a father of two, murdered Mr Everett at their shared home in Winton, Salford, before embarking on a calculated plan to dispose of the body. The court heard that the defendant not only dismembered Mr Everett but also flayed the skin from his skull.
To cover his tracks, he transported the victim’s body parts in plastic bags, travelling on public transport across Salford and Manchester to discard them in different locations.
Majerkiewicz denied responsibility for the killing and refused to give evidence in his defence during his trial at Manchester Crown Court. However, the jury took less than two hours to convict him of murder following a three-week trial.
Judge condemns “evil” murder
Sentencing Majerkiewicz, Mr Justice Cavanagh condemned the act as a “pre-planned murder for gain” carried out to steal Mr Everett’s money to pay off spiralling debts.
“You acted in an almost unbelievably cold-blooded and macabre way and showed complete disrespect and contempt for your friend’s remains,” the judge said.
“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.”
Discovery of the victim’s remains
Mr Everett, a retired civil servant, was killed between 27 and 28 March last year. His murder only came to light when a member of the public discovered a torso at Kersal Dale nature reserve in Salford on 4 April.
Police trawled through CCTV footage and identified a man carrying a heavy blue bag into the wooded area. Though the suspect initially remained unknown, a breakthrough came when a police officer working on the case spotted Majerkiewicz in the street, recognising him from the footage.
A search of the killer’s home revealed traces of blood, suggesting an attempted clean-up after the gruesome crime. Despite the extensive police investigation, only one-third of Mr Everett’s remains were ever recovered.
A kind-hearted victim betrayed
Born Roman Ziemacki to Polish parents who had survived a Russian concentration camp, Mr Everett had lived a quiet life. He had worked for the NHS and the Department for Work and Pensions and was known as “Benny” to his family. Described as a mild-mannered man, he loved gardening, cricket, and Rat Pack music.
Mr Everett had been living in a three-bedroom house in Salford, where he sublet rooms to Polish tenants, including Majerkiewicz, who moved in during 2017.
Killer’s desperate bid to escape
Majerkiewicz, who had once managed fast-food restaurants in the Trafford Centre but was unemployed at the time of the murder, was drowning in debt. He owed £60,000 in loans and £14,000 on credit cards, and the court heard he planned to flee to Spain after assuming control of Mr Everett’s finances.
In a disturbing twist, the killer used Mr Everett’s mobile phone and bank account after the murder, even sending texts and a birthday card to the victim’s family, tricking them into believing he was still alive.
He had been searching for properties to rent in Alicante before his arrest.
Painful impact on the family
Richard Ziemacki, Mr Everett’s brother, delivered a heartbreaking victim impact statement in court.
“It’s extremely difficult to put into words how much I miss him,” he said.
“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.”
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The judge commended Greater Manchester Police for their “truly outstanding” work in piecing together the complex case.
Investigation uncovers shocking details
The investigation, codenamed Operation Harker, found remains at multiple locations, including Linnyshaw Colliery Woods, Blackleach Reservoir, Worsley Woods, and Boggart Hole Clough. Some body parts were even discarded near Majerkiewicz’s own home.
Chillingly, he was caught on CCTV stopping for a KFC meal immediately after dumping body parts.
Pathologists confirmed that Mr Everett had suffered repeated blows to the head, fracturing his skull in multiple places. Bloodstains in Majerkiewicz’s bedroom indicated that the attack and dismemberment took place there.
Third housemate cleared of involvement
A third housemate, Michal Polchowski, 68, was initially charged with murder but later had the charges dropped.
Majerkiewicz will now serve at least 34 years behind bars, bringing a semblance of justice for Mr Everett’s devastated family.
