THE heartbroken family of a man savagely beaten to death have spoken of their devastation after learning the suffering Tomasz Dembler endured.
The 39-year-old father-of-one suffered multiple injuries when he kicked, punched, and stamped on during an explosion of violence.
His hands were then cut-off and his mutilated body was dumped in a shallow grave where it remained for a month until his remains were fortuitously spotted by two teenager girls walking through Flatts Lane Country Park, near Middlesbrough.
Today, his brother and nephew spoke of the impact his killing had on Mr Dembler’s family.
His brother, Krzysztof, described the news like being something out of a ‘horror film’ and it was difficult to comprehend.
In a victim impact statement, he said: “I was in shock and thought this must be wrong. They have made a mistake. When I did hear the full extent of what had happened to Tomasz I felt physically sick.
“To be told he had been beaten to death was horrific enough but to hear the injuries he received was truly shattering but that wasn’t all. I was then told his hands had been severed and his body buried in woodland, as if his life meant nothing.
“This was absolutely beyond belief. How could anyone carry this out? It was like them telling me about a horror film, not real life. What horrendous pain and torture he must have had to go through.
“I cannot think about Tomasz’s last moments, what horrendous pain and terror he must have been in.”
He told the court that he identified his brother’s body with his son by his side and said they both needed counselling to get over the impact of what they saw.
Tomasz’s nephew, Harlej, said the year since Tomasz had been killed had been filled with pain.
He said: “Why was he killed in such a brutal way? Savagely beaten to death in his own bedroom, where he should have felt safe. Killed in his sleep when he was at his most vulnerable and defenceless by inhumane criminals, who haven’t felt any remorse for a second.”
Rafal Chmielewski and Zbigniew Pawlowski admitted their role in the killing of Mr Dembler.
Three other co-accused - Monika Solerska; Tomasz Reczycki; and Adam Czerwinski, all pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of the body.
Pawlowski, of Leven Street, Newport, Middlesbrough; Rafal Chmielewski, 37, of Birchington Avenue, Grangetown; Tomasz Reczycki, 37, of Ashfield Avenue, Grove Hill, Middlesbrough; Monika Solerska, 37, of Birchington Avenue, Grangetown; and Adam Czerwinski, 45, of Edward Street, North Ormesby, had all denied murder.
They will be sentenced this afternoon.
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