Man Convicted of Dismembering Friend in Greater Manchester
A man has been convicted at Manchester Crown Court for the murder of his friend, whose body was dismembered and discovered in numerous locations, including parks and nature reserves across Greater Manchester.
Details of the Crime
Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, was found guilty of murdering Stuart Everett, 67, affectionately known as Benny. The court was told the fatal incident occurred during a violent assault at their shared residence in Eccles on either March 27 or 28 of the previous year.
Following the dismemberment of Everett, described by acquaintances as “jolly” and “sociable,” Majerkiewicz attempted to conceal his crime by using his victim’s phone to communicate with relatives, even sending birthday cards in an effort to maintain the deception.
Discovery and Investigation
The police investigation commenced after a member of the public discovered a portion of Everett’s body at Kersal Dale nature reserve on April 4, 2024.
Detectives initiated an extensive inquiry, dedicating thousands of hours to reviewing CCTV footage. They focused on identifying an individual, dubbed “heavy bag man,” observed struggling with a large shopping bag in proximity to the initial discovery site.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Their investigation led them to a housing estate in Eccles. While conducting door-to-door inquiries, an officer identified Majerkiewicz, who matched the description of the “heavy bag man,” boarding a bus. A subsequent search of Majerkiewicz revealed Everett’s phone and bank cards, facilitating the formal identification of the victim.
Trial Revelations
During the two-and-a-half-week trial, the jury heard evidence indicating the close nature of the relationship between the men. Emails from Everett to a friend referred to Majerkiewicz as his “partner,” and witnesses testified that the pair appeared to be “close.”
Everett, born to Polish parents and originally from Derby, had known Majerkiewicz for over a decade. They maintained separate bedrooms in the Eccles house, which Majerkiewicz, originally from Poland, moved into after separating from his former partner.
The motive behind Majerkiewicz’s fatal actions remains unclear, as he offered no defense in court.
A Home Office pathologist informed the court that Everett’s head remains could be reconstructed, revealing evidence of blunt force trauma consistent with a hammer-like weapon. It is believed hand tools were used in the dismemberment.
Following the initial discovery at Kersal Dale, more body parts were located in other green areas, some discovered by members of the public.
Majerkiewicz fraudulently assumed Everett’s identity, utilizing his phone to send messages to family, friends, and the landlord. He even dispatched two handwritten birthday cards to family members and exploited Everett’s bank accounts for his personal use, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC stated to the court, “By that time, he was, we say, already dead, and his body, including his face had been cut up by the defendant.”
On April 3, Majerkiewicz researched the address of Everett’s brother in Derby and sent a birthday card, impersonating Everett. The card, bearing Majerkiewicz’s fingerprints according to the prosecution, read: “To Rich, happy birthday and all the best my old man 🙂 Benny xxxx.”
Victim’s brother, Richard Ziemacki, in a witness statement, recounted initially “not noticing anything unusual” based on messages and the birthday card. However, upon reflection, he informed police, “I do not recognise the handwriting as belonging to my brother,” also noting his brother would not have used the phrase “my old man.”
Police Statement
Complexity of the Investigation
Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, the senior investigating officer, described the case as having “rarely seen complexity and scale.” He highlighted that detectives initially responded to the discovery of partial human remains in a remote woodland area.
Focus on Victim and Family
“We said from the start that we wouldn’t give up and the victim and their family remained at the forefront of our minds and actions throughout. We have been focused on both ensuring justice in this case, but also ensuring the victim could be returned to his family and laid to rest,” stated Det Ch Supt Hughes.
Importance of Identification and Respect
He further added, “We knew from the beginning that we had a family somewhere that would one day learn the most distressing news that a family could ever hear, and ultimately from that moment onwards our duty was to recover and identify the victim in a respectful and dignified manner and this was just as important as solving the case and catching the killer.”
Sentencing Awaited
Majerkiewicz is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.