RAFAL NOWAK SENTENCED IN CHARD FOR BRUTAL MURDER OF CATHERINE WELLS-BURR

Rafal Nowak, a 31-year-old man from Chard, has been handed a severe prison sentence after being convicted of the murder of his British girlfriend, Catherine Wells-Burr, aged 23. The court proceedings revealed a chilling account of how Nowak carried out the killing, which took place in their shared residence in September 2012. According to the court, Nowak suffocated Wells-Burr with a pillowcase while she was peacefully sleeping, an act that shocked everyone present during the trial.

Following the murder, Nowak’s accomplices, Anna Lagwinowicz and Tadeusz Dmytryszyn, played a crucial role in the aftermath. They transported Wells-Burr’s body in her red Ford Focus to a layby in Ashill, a location a few miles from Chard. The trio waited at the scene until approximately 6 am before executing their plan to destroy the evidence. They poured petrol into the vehicle and set it ablaze, with Wells-Burr still strapped into the driver’s seat, effectively incinerating her remains in an attempt to cover up the crime.

The trial, which concluded in June 2013, uncovered that the murder was motivated by financial gain. The defendants aimed to claim a £123,000 life insurance payout and to secure a half-share of a property valued at £137,000. The court heard that the murder was premeditated, with the trio planning the act meticulously to maximize their financial benefits.

In sentencing, Nowak received a minimum term of 32 years in prison, a sentence shared by his accomplices, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn. However, the case took a controversial turn when the family of Wells-Burr learned that Nowak could potentially have his sentence reduced by seven years if he were deported to Poland. This possibility arose because Polish law does not consider the planning and disposal of a body when determining sentencing tariffs, leading to a more lenient approach.

Despite the outrage expressed by Wells-Burr’s family, the Ministry of Justice granted permission for Nowak to serve his remaining sentence in Poland. This decision has sparked widespread condemnation, with her family launching a petition that garnered over 6,000 signatures, urging the British government to oppose the deportation. They argue that this move is a mockery of justice, emphasizing that a life was taken and that the murderer is being rewarded with a lighter sentence.

Jayne, Catherine’s mother, voiced her despair, stating, 'I am in absolute despair – we are all distraught. If they are successful, they will get seven years off. These three are highly dangerous people who systematically plotted and planned Catherine’s murder. They can move on. We feel like if they are allowed to go back to Poland, they are being rewarded. They get less time and a fresh start – while we are left with the real life sentence of a life without Catherine. I feel we have been let down. The British justice system worked really hard to secure these convictions, and this just makes a mockery of them.'

The decision to deport Nowak and allow him to serve his sentence in Poland is based on legal differences between the two countries. Polish law does not take into account the planning and disposal of a body when setting sentencing tariffs, which could result in a shorter prison term for Nowak. The family remains devastated and angry over what they see as a miscarriage of justice, mourning the loss of Catherine Wells-Burr and feeling betrayed by the legal process that they believe diminishes her murder.