Four men have been found guilty of killing a father who was kidnapped, tortured, and set on fire in a brutal attack linked to an organised crime group. Tomasz Samel, 45, was abducted from his home in Raleigh Close, Handsworth, in March 2019 by men posing as INTERPOL officers, a court heard. He was then bundled into a white Peugeot van and driven to Liverpool, where he was doused in petrol and set alight. Mr Samel suffered 75% burns to his body and was dumped in a remote location. He managed to seek help but died in hospital three months later.
Guilty verdicts at Birmingham Crown Court
Following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Tobiasz Kozlowski, 38, from Kirkby, Merseyside, and Neil Jones, 48, of no fixed address, were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Kevin Wooden, 46, from Banbury, and Kye Arthur, 35, from Bristol, were cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. All four men had admitted conspiracy to kidnap and falsely imprison. Kozlowski’s wife, Sandra Kozlowska, 38, also from Kirkby, was found guilty of assisting an offender.
Attack linked to HMRC seizure
The attack was carried out as punishment after HMRC seized £1 million worth of cigarettes stored at Mr Samel’s unit in Aston. The organised crime group targeted him in a premeditated assault that involved kidnapping, torture, and ultimately murder. The court heard that the perpetrators posed as INTERPOL officers to gain access to his home before the violent abduction.
Sentencing adjourned and CPS statement
Sentencing was adjourned until October 9. The four men were remanded into custody, while Kozlowska was allowed to remain on bail. Kate Seal, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘This was a brutal attack on a man who was kidnapped from his own home and subjected to horrendous violence. The CPS worked closely with West Midlands Police throughout this lengthy and complex investigation to pursue lines of enquiry and build a case using forensic, digital and witness evidence. Our thoughts remain with Mr Samel’s family, who have endured unimaginable suffering, including witnessing his abduction from their family home. I hope these verdicts provide some measure of closure and reassurance that justice has been achieved.’
