By James Simons-
A polish man stabbed his housemate to death over a drunken dispute about stolen alcohol.
Bartolmiej Dedek had drunk four litres of cider and two bottles of wine during his shift working at a restaurant, before fatally stabbing Stawomir Burdalski to death. The pair had been drinking together the previous night, but Dedek returned home to be accused by his housemate of stealing his alcohol. Exactly was occurred immediately after is known except that Mr.Buldaski was found stabbed to death.
According to Dedek’s account, his dead flat mate confronted him with an allegation that he stole his alcohol, something Dedek denied. However, as the pair were drunk, they allegation developed into a row and soon escalated into a knife attack at the house on Bexley Mount, Harehills.
The fatal attack which happened in the early hours of February 12 this year is a typical example of how far alcohol can lead some people into the most nightmarish of scenarios. Dedek plausibly claims he was cut in the face by Burldaski, and has the physical scar to show it. However, the 34 year old Polish national said he successfully took the knife from his flat mate during a struggle and stabbed Mr Burdalski once to his left thigh. The stab wound severed an artery, causing him to bleed to death.
BLEEDING
Another housemate attempted to stem the bleeding and resuscitate Mr Burdalski to no avail. Dedek The frightened man then put the blame of the stabbing on a fictitious individual when he called 999 because he was scared he would be done for murder. Dedek was eventually found out by police and pleaded guilty to manslaughter once he realised cops knew he was the perpetrator of the fatal attack. Had he refused to admit the attack, he would have been up for a murder charge, carrying a life sentence.
SENTENCES
The court heard that violent Dedek has served prison sentences in Poland for robbery, theft, attempted burglary and possessing drugs. He moved to the UK in 2008 and has appeared before the courts in this country for possessing a knuckle duster in public. In 2011, Dedek was also given a community order for threatening his girlfriend with a knife after accusing her of cheating on him. Under these circumstances, it was impossible to prove murder because of the drunken habits of the pair, and the fact Dedek had sustained a stab wound to his cheek.
Dedek was sentenced to 14 years for the manslaughter of his flatmate. What a shame that a life could be wasted over alcohol, surely bringing so much sorrow to the dead man’s family. As for Dedek, 14 years in jail will be long enough to wish he never met the man he killed or hadn’t been such a lover of alcohol. The drinking party will not be the same in jail.
This does not and cannot mean that Dedek did not recklessly kill his flat mate in a way that would normally amount to murder, it simply means the circumstances and lack of independent witnesses makes it impossible to claim or argue murder in violent and drunken circumstances like this.