These are the three teenage killers who lured a college student to a park in a row over a drug debt and left him to bleed to death. Maciej Mikolajczyk, then 17, stabbed his 'close friend' Alan Szelugowski 20 times before taking his mobile phone so he had no chance of calling for help.
Today (Monday) he was jailed for life for murder and told he will serve at least 20 years before being considered for parole. His accomplices Lilner Neto and Benson Jones, both 16 at the time of the attack in January 2022, have each been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of manslaughter.
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Their names and faces can today be revealed for the first time as they are all now 18-years-old. Alan, 17, suffered horrendous injuries to his head and body in the 'brutal, mindless' attack..
He was discovered in Clowes Park in Salford the following morning by dog walkers. A trial had earlier heard Alan was murdered after he had 'fallen out' with his 'close friend' Mikolajczyk over a cannabis debt.
They had arranged to meet at the park on January 29, 2022, to 'sort things out', Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Mikolajczyk, of Moorsley Drive, Blackley, brought along Lilner Neto, of Duke Street, Broughton, and Benson Jones, of Edith Street, Moss Side, to the 'pre-planned' assault.
Carrying 'at least one knife' they arrived at the park in a stolen BMW. They then 'set upon' Alan in the dark in a vicious attack which lasted around 10 minutes.
They fled the scene and attempted to cover their tracks by getting rid of the knife and the mobile phone they had taken from the grievously injured victim. In a statement read out in court Alan's mum Anna Szelugowska, told of the devastating impact her son's murder had had on her family.
"Since that day our lives have never, and will never, be the same again," she said. "There are no words to describe how I feel.
"I walk down the street and see other teenage boys living their lives and become angry. The only reason I am still here is for my other two sons. Without them I think I would have ended my life."
Judge John Potter described the attack as 'brutal, mindless violence'. He added: "The three of you set upon Alan in the dark in that park and stabbed, kicked and punched him. You, Maciej Mikolajczyk, used at least one knife to inflict injury.
"After the attack the three of you abandoned your victim in the park, raising no alarm as to what you had done and ensuring that there was no prospect of any alarm being raised you took his mobile phone and disposed of it, as you also did with the knife you had used."
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