Daniel Pelka: pair convicted of boy’s murder

A jury at Birmingham crown court convicted Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek of killing Daniel Pelka, after hearing how a sustained campaign of cruelty saw the boy weigh only 10.7 kg (24 lbs) at the time of his death.

The murder, which occurred weeks after teaching staff saw him with bruising to his neck and black eyes, is the subject of a serious case review by Coventry’s safeguarding children board.

Former soldier Krezolek – described in court as a heartless “monster” – and Luczak blamed each other for Daniel’s death during the trial.

But text messages between the pair proved they worked as a team to inflict the sickening abuse and even decided not to summon an ambulance as Daniel lay dying with more than 20 separate injuries.

I have been a detective in the child abuse investigation department for five years and it’s the worst I’ve ever seen. Det Insp Chris Hanson

Factory worker Krezolek and Luczak were both drinking heavily and taking drugs, including cannabis and amphetamines, at the time of the abuse.

Arm broken ‘clean in half’

The couple, who never took Daniel to see his GP, had previously colluded in covering up an earlier act of cruelty in which Daniel’s left arm was broken “clean in half” by Krezolek in a fit of temper.

The pair will be sentenced on Friday.

Detective Inspector Chris Hanson was the officer who took the decision to formally seize Daniel’s body as an exhibit after inspecting his injuries at a hospital mortuary.

Mr Hanson, the manager of Coventry’s child abuse investigation unit, said the officers who worked on the 17-month inquiry found the case particularly traumatic.

Asked how the level of abuse meted out to Daniel compared to other prosecutions he has dealt with, Mr Hanson said: “I have been a detective in the child abuse investigation department for five years and it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.

“The prolonged and protracted element of it is just completely harrowing and very difficult to accept.

“I guess if I’m being completely honest we just weren’t ready for the awful circumstances surrounding his death and his life in the six months that led up to his death.

‘Crucial questions need to be asked’

“We just weren’t prepared for what we found – Daniel was not only beaten to death, but was treated terribly.”

The court was told that Daniel was imprisoned in a room with the door handles removed, fed salt when he asked for a drink, deprived of food and forced to defecate in his own bed.

Further cruelty involved being submerged in a cold bath and sent to school with only half a sandwich in his lunchbox.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: “Once again, crucial questions need to be asked about how a youngster slipped through the child protection net with the most catastrophic of consequences.

“The indications that Daniel was suffering for some months should have been plain to see – he was disappearing in front of people’s eyes.”

‘Devastating impact’ on boy’s school

Gil Mulhall, the headteacher at Little Heath school and its deputy headteacher during Daniel’s time there, said: “Although he only attended our school for six months, Daniel will be remembered by everyone who knew him during his all too brief time here and his death has had a devastating impact on our school community.

“A quiet, unassuming boy, Daniel was accepted and liked by his classmates and has been greatly missed.

“This can be seen in the way his school mates wanted to remember Daniel when we spoke to them after his tragic death.”

A memorial bench, with an apple tree planted on either side, and a garden has been created in the school grounds in Daniel’s memory.