Two men accused of murdering a pensioner, whose butchered torso and remains were found scattered at a nature reserve in Salford, have been remanded into custody.
The 67-year-old victim, Stuart Everett, was today named and pictured for the first time as the man detectives believe was killed.
Police charged Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski, 68, and Marcin Majerkiewicz, 42, with murder on Monday. They appeared at Manchester Crown Court today.
The pair, both from Eccles, were remanded in custody following the brief appearance and will next appear in court on July 18 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
A provisional trial date of March 3 next year was fixed by Judge Nicholas Dean KC, the Honorary Recorder of Manchester.
Although formal identification is yet to take place, detectives believe the victim to be 67-year-old Stuart Everett, who was a local to the area
Police combing through woodland at Kersal Dale, near Salford, on April 5 where the headless torso was found
While formal identification is yet to take place, Greater Manchester Police said Mr Everett’s family had been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, added: ‘My thoughts and the thoughts of officers and staff across Greater Manchester Police are with Stuart’s family at this traumatic time. Family Liaison Officers are supporting them through each update in our investigation.
‘On behalf of Stuart’s loved ones, I ask the public and the press to please respect their wishes for peace and privacy while they process this most devastating news.’
The series of gruesome discoveries began on April 4 when a local found a lower back, buttocks and thigh wrapped in cellophane in Kersal Dale Wetlands.
Then on Saturday, a dog walker found ‘human remains’ in a package at Linnyshaw Colliery Wood.
And just one day later, on Sunday, body parts were also found by divers in nearby Blackleach Reservoir.
Further suspected human remains were found in an alleyway close to railway lines in Eccles, Greater Manchester, on Monday.
Announcing details of the ‘breakthrough’ on Sunday evening, Detective Superintendent Hughes said: ‘We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.
A forensic officer walks with a plastic bag full of a number of miscellaneous items on Friday, April 5
Police searching Kersal Dale, Salford where the dismembered male torso was found on April 4
‘From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.’
He continued: ‘We believe he [the victim] is known to the two suspects we have in custody.
‘They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.
‘We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation.
‘Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.’
Detective Superintendent Hughes said that although ‘forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are’ they are ‘confident’ they belong to the victim in this investigation.
Speaking after Mr Everett was named as the victim, today, he added: ‘My officers and detectives, alongside additional resources from across the force, have worked tirelessly over the last three days to secure charges.
A heavy police presence was pictured at Blackleach Country Park as part of the investigation into the headless torso
North West’s Underwater Search and Marine Unit operating in Blackleach Country Park Reservoir on Sunday
A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service welfare vehicle pictured at Blackleach Country Park Reservoir on Sunday where human remains were found
‘We are grateful for the public’s continued help and support throughout this case. We understand the shockwaves this has caused throughout the community and beyond, and we hope you are reassured by the pace of our investigation and also our large police presence in the areas as we continue to make enquiries.
‘We have officers drawn from different teams and units in GMP who have helped us search and their efforts do not go unnoticed, and they have all played an important role to help us get to this stage in our investigation.
‘We said right at the start that our investigation will not stop until we have every stone unturned, and this continues to be the case. Our investigation has been a huge process so far, and we will continue to push forward in our enquiries to find answers for Stuart’s family.’
On Monday, ACC Sarah Jackson from GMP said the force’s work was ‘far from over’ despite two men having been charged with murder.
She added: ‘We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
‘I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.’
