Three individuals involved in the 2011 torture and murder of Dariusz Michalowski, as well as a subsequent cover-up plot, have been sentenced to a combined total of 72 years in prison. The sentences were handed down at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday, October 26.
Adam Tolwinski (39) of Devonshire Street, Keighley and Ernest Weber (46) received life sentences with a minimum term of 33 years for their involvement in Dariusz’s murder, preventing a legal burial, and perverting the course of justice in concealing the crime.
Piotr Weber (43) of Bridgend Close in Middlesborough was sentenced to six years for his role in perverting the course of justice and preventing a legal burial.
The convictions come after years of investigation by the police into Dariusz’s disappearance, with appeals made in both West Yorkshire and Poland, his native country.
The case remained under review by the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, and in January 2020, new information prompted the re-questioning of all three men involved, as well as others connected to them. Eventually, one of the individuals provided crucial information leading to the arrest of all three men and the discovery of Dariusz’s body in Mixenden in December 2020.
During the trial, it was revealed that Dariusz had family ties to the Weber brothers in Poland through marriage and had associated with them, Tolwinski, and other members of the Polish community in West Yorkshire. Dariusz had previously worked casually for Ernest Weber and Tolwinski at their garage in Huddersfield.
On March 13, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, the two assailants confronted Dariusz in his Huddersfield flat, believing he had exposed their illegal activities. Over several hours, they subjected him to a brutal assault, including torture, ultimately leading to his death. Tolwinski delivered the fatal blow with a knife. The men then transported Dariusz’s body to a rural area in Mixenden, where they left it covered.
Piotr Weber became aware of the crime the following day and played a significant role in attempts to bury the body and create a false trail to mislead the police about Dariusz’s disappearance.
Detective Superintendent Tony Nicholson, who led the 2020 reinvestigation, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, highlighting the appalling nature of the crimes committed against a vulnerable individual. He emphasised the sadistic motives behind the assault and the subsequent cover-up, denying Dariusz a proper burial and his family the knowledge of what had befallen him.
David Holderness, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire & Humberside, acknowledged the unimaginable abuse Dariusz suffered before his cruel murder. He commended the collaborative efforts between the CPS and West Yorkshire Police to dismantle the defendants’ web of lies and secure the convictions. Holderness expressed hope that the sentencing would provide some solace to those who knew Dariusz, although nothing could fully compensate for his suffering and the profound loss experienced by his loved ones.
