Wickedness: Man and secret lover found guilty of murdering British graduate, 23, for her £123,000 life insurance (PICTURED)

These are the last pictures of unsuspecting 23-year-old Catherine Wells-Burr with her treacherous boyfriend Rafal Nowak, caught on CCTV walking hand in hand through a supermarket hours before he murdered her.

It was released today after a jury today found Nowak, 31, guilty of smothering the young graduate to death at the home they shared in a plot hatched with his secret lover.

After the killing, Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, joined her devoted uncle, Tadevsz Dmytryszyn, 38, in dumping Miss Wells-Burr’s body in her car at a nearby roadside and setting fire to it.

Final photo: Catherine Wells-Burr (left) is caught on camera hand in hand with her boyfriend Rafal Nowak in a Tesco supermarket at 7.15pm just hours before she diedFinal photo: Catherine Wells-Burr (left) is caught on camera hand in hand with her boyfriend Rafal Nowak in a Tesco supermarket at 7.15pm – just hours before her smothered her to death at the home they shared

Last moments: Catherine Wells-Burr is caught on the Tesco CCTV leaving the Tesco supermarket. Her boyfriend Nowak (walking behind her) was plotting to kill her that night

Last moments: Catherine Wells-Burr is caught on the Tesco CCTV leaving the Tesco supermarket. Her boyfriend Nowak (walking behind her) was plotting to kill her that night

At Bristol Crown Court today, Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn were convicted of the 23-year-old business analyst’s murder in September 2012. They will be sentenced on Monday.

The Bath Spa University graduate died as a result of a plot driven by revenge, jealousy and greed.

With her death the three defendants would secure a £123,000 life insurance payout and a half share of the £137,000 two-bedroom home Nowak lived in with his girlfriend.

The murder was the result of months of secret meetings and phone calls between Nowak and Lagwinowicz, with Miss Wells-Burr oblivious to her part in the so-called love triangle.

Murder victim: Catherine Wells-Burr who was murdered by her cheating Polish boyfriend as she slept in their newly-bought home they sharedMurder victim: Catherine Wells-Burr who was murdered by her cheating Polish boyfriend as she slept in their newly-bought home they shared

Burly Nowak smothered a sleeping Miss Wells-Burr with a pillow, before Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn removed her body from the house and drove it in her red Ford Focus to a countryside beauty spot at Ashill.

They placed the university graduate in the driver’s seat and set fire to the car at 6am – 20 minutes after Nowak had clocked in at work – providing him with what he thought was the perfect alibi.

The defendants had spent months leaving a false trail for detectives, creating fake profiles for Miss Wells-Burr on adult websites and sending texts to her phone from a supposed mystery lover.

Nowak, of Chard, Lagwinowicz, of Taunton, and Dmytryszyn, of Taunton, denied having any part in the death during their trial.

But the jury, who sat through seven weeks of harrowing evidence, found the twisted trio guilty of murder after seeing through their web of lies.

During the trial, a heavily-tattooed Nowak wept in the witness box as he insisted he played no part in the death of his ‘true love’.

But the cheating factory worker – who continued to have sex with Lagwinowicz while dating Miss Wells-Burr – failed to provide the court with any other explanation for how his girlfriend could have died.

The father-of-one, who has a wife and teenage son in his native Poland, told the jury: ‘Everyone blames me for something that I never done.’

Guilty: Rafl Nowak (left), his lover Anna Lagwinowicz (centre) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right) stand in the dock today in this court illustration as they are convicted of murdering the British graduateGuilty: Rafl Nowak (left), his lover Anna Lagwinowicz (centre) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right) stand in the dock today in this court illustration as they are convicted of murdering the British graduate
Killer: Rafal Nowak, 31, in his prison mug shot
Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, who was today found guilty of murder

Killers: Secret lovers Rafal Nowak, 31, (left) and Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, (right) who were today found guilty of murder

Killer: Anna's uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn, 38, who helped destroy the body in the Ford FocusKiller: Anna’s uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn, 38, who helped destroy the body in the Ford Focus

The court heard how callous Nowak showed no emotion at all when police discovered Miss Wells-Burr’s body in her burnt out car on the morning of September 12.

Her mother, Jayne Wells-Burr, told the jury that he ‘didn’t mention Catherine at all’ – instead asking for a steak dinner after his initial release from police custody.

Lagwinowicz, who frequently shook her head and laughed in the dock when Nowak suggested she had been responsible for the killing, refused to take to the witness stand.

Dmytryszyn also did not give evidence in his defence during the trial.

Speaking after the verdicts, Miss Wells-Burr’s parents called for tougher immigration controls.

Phil and Jayne Wells-Burr, who are no longer together, said Nowak – who has a conviction for assaulting his wife in Poland – would not have been allowed into the UK had this country’s immigration rules been as strict as the those in the US.

They blamed the European Union and said the UK needed to ‘wake up a bit’ and toughen up.

Mrs Wells-Burr, 46, said: ‘There is no screening of people coming into this country. We didn’t know that Rafal had had an assault charge on him while back in Poland.

‘I kind of think this Government needs to wake up a bit.’

'Happy couple': Graduate Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, and her boyfriend Rafal Nowak who was today found guilty of her murder‘Happy couple’: Graduate Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, and her boyfriend Rafal Nowak who was today found guilty of her murder
Anger: Catherine Well-Burr's family (from left to right) - her sister Leanne, 21, her mother Jayne, 46, and father Philip, 48. Today the family attacked the Government for allowing Catherine's killer into the country under EU immigration policyAnger: Catherine Well-Burr’s family (from left to right) – her sister Leanne, 21, her mother Jayne, 46, and father Philip, 48. Today the family attacked the Government for allowing Catherine’s killer into the country under EU immigration policy

Mr Wells-Burr, 48, said: ‘That is what we need in this country now.’

Mrs Wells-Burr said that Nowak was reluctant to commit to a family holiday in Florida.

‘He said he couldn’t raise the money to go, but it’s because he has a criminal record that we didn’t know about, because you can’t go into that country, like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, but because we are part of the EU it’s ok,’ she said.

Fuel purchase: Anna Lagwinowicz (left) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right) are caught on Morrisons petrol station CCTV in Taunton, Somerset, buying the five litres of petrol that would be used to burn Catherine's bodyFuel purchase: Anna Lagwinowicz (left) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right) are caught on Morrisons petrol station CCTV in Taunton, Somerset, buying the five litres of petrol that would be used to burn Catherine’s body

 

Caught on camera: CCTV image shows Anna Lagwinowicz (left both photos) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right both photos) at a Morrisons petrol station in Taunton buying five litres of petrol that were used to burn the bodyCaught on camera: CCTV image shows Anna Lagwinowicz (left both photos) and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn (right both photos) at a Morrisons petrol station in Taunton buying five litres of petrol that were used to burn the body
Killing: The burnt and wrecked Ford Focus car which Catherine Wells-Burr was found inside hours after she was murdered. Her killers thought they had the perfect alibisKilling: The burnt and wrecked Ford Focus car which Catherine Wells-Burr was found inside hours after she was murdered. Her killers thought they had the perfect alibis
Man with a dragon tattoo: Rafal Nowak, the boyfriend of Catherine Wells-Burr, who was today found guilty of murdering herMan with a dragon tattoo: Rafal Nowak, the boyfriend of Catherine Wells-Burr, who was today found guilty of murdering her

Ms Wells-Burr’s family wept, gasped and loudly exclaimed ‘yes’ as the guilty verdicts were returned.
The defendants remained emotionless and stared straight ahead as they were convicted.

Nowak was convicted by a unanimous jury, while Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn were found guilty by majority verdicts.

The jury spent 12 hours and 31 minutes debating the case, following seven weeks of harrowing evidence.

Mrs Justice Sharp told the jury: ‘In view of the lateness of the hour the defendants may sit, I shall not proceed to sentence today.

‘Members of the jury, let me thank you for your service in this case.

‘You have been attentive, punctual and fulfilled your important public duty in serving as the jury in this distressing case. We are grateful to you.’

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Simon Crisp, from Avon and Somerset police, who led the investigation said: ‘This was a wicked crime committed against a bright and innocent young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.

‘Nowak, Lagwinowocz and Dmytryszyn took both Catherine’s and her family’s future away from them on the night they carried out this calculated killing. They then tried to cover their tracks and mislead us in a bid to get away with what they had done.

‘Murder is a terrible crime but what makes this worse is the intricate planning that took place while Nowak pretended to care about Catherine – playing the doting boyfriend while plotting to take her life for a few thousand pounds.

Tattoo: A picture of the dragon tattoo that Polish killer Rafal Nowak has. He was today found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Catherine Wells-BurrTattoo: A picture of the dragon tattoo that Polish killer Rafal Nowak has. He was today found guilty of murdering his girlfriend Catherine Wells-Burr
Kiler: Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, who was in a secret relationship with Rafal Nowak, 31. She was involved in hiding the body after the murderKiler: Anna Lagwinowicz, 32, who was in a secret relationship with Rafal Nowak, 31. She was involved in hiding the body after the murder

‘Their plan unravelled despite their best attempts to mislead us and today they have been found guilty of Catherine’s murder.

‘I would like to pay tribute to Catherine’s family who have remained strong and dignified throughout. Their support to the investigate team has been invaluable.

‘While the verdict and sentence will never bring Catherine back I hope it goes some way in providing some closure knowing that justice has been done.

‘Finally I’d like to thank our first rate prosecution team led by the CPS here in Bristol who co-ordinated a complicated and challenging case through to today’s final conclusion.’

Senior Crown prosecutor Melanie Ringland added: ‘In the days following the murder the police asked for the assistance and guidance of the Crown Prosecution Service. That assistance came from the Southwest Complex Casework Unit based in Bristol.

‘We have worked closely with Avon and Somerset Police throughout this extremely complex investigation. This investigation was meticulous.

‘By piecing together numerous pieces of evidence the prosecution team were able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn were guilty of this ruthless murder motivated by greed.’

Speaking outside court, Miss Wells-Burr’s mother Jayne said: ‘Leanne, Phil and I are here today because of the cruel, callous, wicked, evil and sickening act of murder against our beautiful Catherine.

‘Catherine was an inspirational, amazing, caring, kind, intelligent young woman, who had her whole life ahead of her with so much potential after gaining her First Class Bachelor of Honours Degree in Business Management at Bath Spa University. We were all very proud of her and the person she had become.

‘The hatred shown to her has truly shocked us, especially the hatred shown by Rafal Nowak, a man who was meant to have loved her.

‘His betrayal to our family has devastated us. We treated him like a son and family member.

‘Anna Lagwinowicz has been devious, manipulative and calculating, her actions to create such sickening false profiles of Catherine demonstrate this and as a result these evil people have made us question our judge of character and trust in people – we trust no-one.

‘Our world as we knew it has fallen apart. Our lives used to be fun, full of laughter and love. We can see no future without our beautiful Catherine. We are heartbroken. No prison sentence will ever be enough. In this country life is not life and we feel it should be.

‘We are the ones facing the life sentence without her.’

Killer is ‘evil’ say graduate’s parents who let Pole stay with them after the murder

Killer Rafal Nowak has been branded ‘evil’ by the parents of the girlfriend he brutally murdered.

Jayne and Phil Wells-Burr said they had treated him like a son and welcomed him into their family.

But he betrayed them in the cruellest way imaginable when he murdered their eldest child Catherine.

Nowak had hatched a plan with his ex-lover Anna Lagwinowicz and her uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn to murder Miss Wells-Burr and dispose of her body.

Anger: Catherine's mother Jayne Wells-Burr, 46, reads a statement outside Bristol Crown Court after the three defendants were found guilty of the killing. She is supported by her husband Philip (left) and daughter Leanne (centre)Anger: Catherine’s mother Jayne Wells-Burr, 46, reads a statement outside Bristol Crown Court after the three defendants were found guilty of the killing. She is supported by her husband Philip (left) and daughter Leanne (centre)

The twisted trio then tried to shift the blame onto a mystery man whom Miss Wells-Burr was supposedly having an affair with.

But the jury saw through their tissue of lies and convicted Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn of the Bath Spa University graduate’s murder.

Mrs Wells-Burr said: ‘We treated Rafal like a son, he was a family member.

‘He’s scum – he’s betrayed us so badly.

‘I think Anna and Rafal were both devious, callous, sickening people, they should never be allowed out into society again, they can never be corrected inside prison, they are just too evil.’

Victim: Bath Spa University graduate Catherine Wells-Burr who had just bought a house with her factory worker boyfriendVictim: Bath Spa University graduate Catherine Wells-Burr who had just bought a house with her factory worker boyfriend

On the day Miss Wells-Burr died, her mother knew something terrible had happened when she failed to arrive at work as normal.

‘When we got to where Catherine lived, I just knew something was desperately wrong and just rang the police straight away,’ Mrs Wells-Burr said.

‘I just had that feeling – a mother’s instinct in your stomach, that something was very, very wrong.’

Mrs Wells-Burr said that as soon as Nowak was arrested she knew he had murdered her daughter – and she told the police that.

‘It was just something that Rafal said, a couple of things outside, he said to me that he begged her not to go, which I thought was a strange thing,’ she said.

‘He said that he had lost his world, that he had lost his future, and I thought, well she’s just missing, why would you say that?

‘So it didn’t make sense, I thought, it’s not right.

‘My thoughts were that he had done it, and I told the police that.’

Police released Nowak and, despite her reservations, Mrs Wells-Burr let him stay with her family.
‘He never spoke about Catherine at all. No tears, nothing,’ she said.

The following morning Nowak never mentioned his girlfriend at all – he just spoke of eating a steak dinner.

Mr Wells-Burr added: ‘We took him in like a son and he betrayed us all.

‘He was there when we went out for the weekend, for Sunday lunch, all of us together, out to the beach, knowing in the back of his mind knowing what he planned to do.

‘He knew that Catherine was well loved and liked by many people and he did that.’

Nowak married in Poland in 2000 and had a son, now a teenager.

While in Poland he had a serious car accident after drink driving and had to pay about £6,500 because the insurance would not cover the damage.

In 2007 Nowak moved to Ireland to work in a bakery because he was struggling to get a job in Poland and his marriage was failing.

Before leaving, he was convicted of assaulting his wife.

In May 2008 he moved to London and then in September to Somerset, where he moved in with Lagwinowicz, her boyfriend and Dmytryszyn.

Nowak and Lagwinowicz were living together in Taunton when he met Miss Wells-Burr.
He continued to share with his ex-lover until April 2011 when they moved into separate flats.

Nowak lived with Miss Wells-Burr from the autumn of 2011 and in the spring of the following year they bought the house in Willow Way. Six months later she was dead.

TIMELINE: HOW POLISH FATHER MURDERED HIS BRITISH GIRLFRIEND

This is a timeline of the death of business graduate Catherine Wells-Burr and the conviction for murder of Rafal Nowak, his jealous ex-lover Anna Lagwinowicz and her doting uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn.

2006 – Lagwinowicz arrives in the UK.

2008 – Nowak arrives in the UK.

Summer 2010 – Nowak and Miss Wells-Burr meet at the Numatics factory in Chard, Somerset, and start a relationship.

July 22, 2011 – Miss Wells-Burr and her family drive to Lagwinowicz’s house and find Nowak in her bed. Nowak assaults Lagwinowicz.

February 2012 – Nowak and Miss Wells-Burr move into a house in Willow Way, Chard.

September 6 – Lagwinowicz and Nowak drive to Lyme Regis in Dorset and have sex in her car.

September 8 – Lagwinowicz uses Google Translate to write messages in English to send from the ‘mystery lover’ of Miss Wells-Burr.

September 9 – Nowak and Miss Wells-Burr have Sunday lunch with her family. Miss Wells-Burr seems upset with Nowak. Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn visit Morrisons in Taunton. Dmytryszyn is seen filling a can with five litres of petrol, which is paid for by Lagwinowicz.

September 10
1.30am – Automatic number plate recognition records show Dmytryszyn driving to Lagwinowicz’s house.

1.33am – A woman from Northern Ireland accidentally calls Miss Wells-Burr’s second mobile, which she used as an alarm clock. Nowak answers the phone.

3.03am – Lagwinowicz uses a sim card which was supposed to be that of the “mystery lover” to call Nowak.

September 11
4.16pm – Nowak checks into work at Numatic.

5.15pm – Nowak and Miss Wells-Burr go shopping at Tesco and buy orange juice, lettuce and burger buns for an evening meal.

8.00pm – Miss Wells-Burr’s phone receives a text from the “mystery lover”.

9.45pm – Miss Wells-Burr texts her father Philip “love you lots xxx”.

10pm – Nowak calls the woman from Northern Ireland who accidentally rang Miss Wells-Burr on September 10.

September 12
2am to 3am – Nowak is believed to have set his phone alarm on vibrate so he can wake and smother Miss Wells-Burr in bed.

4.50am – Miss Wells-Burr’s body is removed from the property by Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn.

5.10am – Nowak leaves for work, waving goodbye to his Slovakian neighbours who notice that Miss Wells-Burr’s car is not in the drive.

5.17am – A text message is sent from Miss Wells-Burr’s phone to the “mystery lover” SIM card.

5.39am – Nowak clocks into work.

6.22am – Motorists report to police that a car is burning at the roadside at Ashill, a few miles from Chard.

7.40am – Lagwinowicz visits a recycling area in Bridgwater.

8.20am – Lagwinowicz has her car cleaned.

9am – Nowak calls Miss Wells-Burr’s sister Leanne and asks if she can check if his girlfriend is at home as he is concerned that she has not turned up at work.

10.30am – Nowak and Miss Wells-Burr’s parents, Philip and Jayne, drive to Willow Way to look for her.

12pm – Detectives arrive at the address and break news to Mr and Mrs Wells-Burr of the discovery of the burning car.

2pm – Nowak is arrested on suspicion of murder.

September 13 – Lagwinowicz is arrested. Nowak is released without charge and stays the night at a hotel.

September 14 – Nowak goes to stay with the Wells-Burr family.

September 15 – Nowak is re-arrested by detectives and Dmytryszyn is also held. Nowak and Lagwinowicz are placed together in a police car. They are recorded telling each other “I love you”.

September 18 – Lagwinowicz is charged with murder and Dmytryszyn is released on bail.

September 19 – Nowak is charged with murder.

November 26 – Dmytryszyn re-arrested on suspicion of murder

November 27 – Dmytryszyn is charged with murder.

April 16, 2013 – Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn go on trial at Bristol Crown Court.

June 7 – Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn convicted of murder.

Read more: Daily Mail

Comments (3)

  1. Whom am i 2 judge ….well… oh God have mercy on ur people.

  2. Whom am i 2 judge ….well oh God have mercy on ur people.

  3. y is d devil takin over pple heart.God hlp us

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail