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Detective: 1,000 people involved in huge riverbank murder probe
Detective Inspector Simon Harding, investigator in the murder case of Piotr Bielicki has talked about how the killers were snared and ultimately convicted.
Detective Inspector Simon Harding, investigator in the murder case of Piotr Bielicki has talked about how the killers were snared and ultimately convicted.DI Harding, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary's major crime team, spoke to The Evening Telegraph after the conclusion of the six-week trial yesterday (Thursday, 12 November).
He said it took more than 1,100 people -from police officers to witnesses - to help bring the case to trial in the 12 months following Mr Bielicki's brutal murder at the Embankment.
It was a painstaking investigation for the detectives, who needed to piece together interviews and sift through hours of CCTV footage, before presenting the case to Cambridge Crown Court.
DI Harding said: "It was a very big investigation as we've been looking at it for a year.
"The pleasing thing is that at the start we didn't know who it was who had murdered Piotr, so being able to present the case over the past few weeks and get the verdicts is great news."
DI Harding also thanked Peterborough's Polish community for their support throughout the course of the challenging case.
He added: "Piotr Bielicki was a young man of good character who was living in the city simply to make money, which he sent home to support his family.
"We would like to thank Piotr's friends, who co-operated fully with police from the start.
"We would also like to thank the wider Polish community within Peterborough for having the confidence to trust the police and help us to bring his killers to justice.
"Piotr was in the wrong place at the wrong time and our thoughts are with his family and friends. It is my hope that the conclusion of this case will allow everyone to begin to move on."
Family: "Thank you for catching our beloved Piotr's killers"
THE family of murdered Piotr Bielicki have spoken of their heartache at losing a "beloved" son and father.
Mr Bielicki moved to Peterborough two years ago from his home in Radom, near the Polish capital Warsaw, where his three-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son still live.
Today, in a statement issued by Cambridgeshire police, his family – united in their grief – said: "We would like to thank the police for their meticulous investigation leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the death of our beloved son and a father.
"We would like to say a special thank- you to all the detectives who put in a lot of hard work and time to bring this case to court. Also thanks to all Piotr's friends for their support and Pc Maria Lesniewska for her help."
During the trial, Mr Bielicki's friend Maciej Dabrowski described him as a "vivid man", who he looked up to.
He added: "He was always happy, he wanted to explore the world.
"He was very smart and a role model for me. He was never aggressive. He always wanted to find a solution rather than by using force."
Related lead article:
Embankment killers facing life in jail, 13 November 2009.
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