Life in jail for pair who used iron to murder man

A man and a woman who beat another man to death using a domestic iron in what a judge described as a "brutal and merciless attack" have been jailed for life.

Jaroslav Daniszewski, 43, was found dead at the home of Zbigniew Chlebek, 67, in Stead Street, Shipley, on 22 April 2025.

Following a trial at Bradford Crown Court, Chlebek and Beata Walczak, 58, of Barkerend Road, Bradford, were both found guilty of his murder and were each sentenced on Thursday to nearly 15 years in prison.

Sentencing the pair, Judge Geoffrey Marson said Daniszewski had suffered a "brutal assault with multiple blows" and had "little or no chance of defending himself".

The trial heard Daniszewski was found dead on the living room floor at Chlebek's one-bedroom flat after having suffered significant injuries to his head and face when he was attacked during a night of heavy drinking.

"Precisely which of you delivered which blows we will never know, but it matters not because you are both equally responsible for this killing," the judge told Chlebek and Walczak while sentencing them.

The court was told that Daniszewski suffered approximately 24 groups of injuries, mostly to his head and face, and two serious brain injuries - the second of which led to his death.

Marson said Chlebek, Walczak, Daniszewski and a man called Roj had met on 20 April for a day of heavy drinking and all had a "serious alcohol problem".

Both defendants maintained they had no memory of events.

"You spent the day drinking significant quantities of alcohol, but other than that we will not know what happened on that day," Marson said.

The court heard Daniszewski had been Walczak's boyfriend and they had had an argument, which was caught on CCTV, in the lead-up to the attack.

"We will never know what the motive or cause of this attack was," Marson told them.

"It is clear to me and I am sure that, from the ferocity of the attack and that final blow, each of you had the intention to kill.

"I am sure that from the totality of the evidence I have heard, including the scientific evidence relating to the distribution of blood, that you were both principals in this killing," Marson said.

The court heard that after Daniszewski's death, Chlebek and Walczak had remained in the flat.

"Your callous reaction after you must have known he was dead was to remain in the flat and you, Walczak, simply went to bed in the bedroom where he lay," said Marson.

The judge said neither had shown any remorse and chose to lie to the police during interrogation.

Following the pair's conviction, Senior Investigating Officer Matt Holdsworth said Daniszewski had been subjected to a "prolonged assault" and was left unconscious by those responsible.

"Rather than seeking help for a gravely injured man, the defendants left him to die," he said.

"The evidence gathered by the investigation team demonstrated not only the severity of the attack, but also the deliberate failure of the offenders to provide or summon assistance when it was clear the victim was in urgent need of medical attention."

Holdsworth said their conviction was a result of "meticulous investigative work" and added that he hoped the verdict would "provide some comfort" to Daniszewski's family.

Chlebek was sentenced to a minimum term of 14 years and 168 days and will remain on licence for the remainder of his life.

Walczak was sentenced to 14 years and 169 days and will remain on licence for the remainder of her life.

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