‘Merciless’ husband jailed for murder

A HUSBAND who showed no mercy in a knife attack on his 36-year-old wife has been jailed for life for her murder.

Bradford hotel worker Monika Lasek suffered devastating wounds as she tried to defend herself during the Sundaymorning attack at the family’s home in Solstice Way, Illingworth, Halifax, last November.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday found her husband Zbigniew Lasek, 36, guilty of murder following a trial.

In sentencing him to life in prison with a minimum term of 24 years, Judge David Hatton QC said he was satisfied that the fatal attack was the culmination of a history of violence and coercive behaviour on Lasek’s part.

The court heard that the couple had three children, who Judge Hatton said had been devastated by the loss of their mother.

During the trial the jury heard how Mrs Lasek had wanted her husband to move out the house after their relationship broke down about six months before the murder.

Nine days before the killing police officers attended at the property following reports of a domestic incident, but Mrs Lasek declined to make a formal statement and no action had been taken against her husband.

During the trial, the jury heard evidence about Lasek’s threats towards his wife and Judge Hatton said on November 26 he had done what he said he would do to ensure that she would not be with anyone else.

“This was a particularly brutal attack with a large and sharp knife,” the judge told Lasek. “You showed her no mercy.”

Lasek, who claimed he “went mad” after his wife stabbed him in the thigh, broke down in tears after the jury’s verdict, but Judge Hatton said he had seen no remorse from him.

“The tears that you purported to shed in evidence, if real, were very much for yourself,” said the judge.