Killer fails in Tati murder appeal

A man serving life for murdering a woman in Wrexham and burying her body in a field has lost his appeal to overturn the conviction.

29-year-old Lukasz Reszpondek from Bradley Road was found guilty last November at Mold Crown Court of murdering 41-year-old Ermatati Rodgers.
 
Mrs Rodgers went missing in January 2008 but her body wasn't found for months.
 
Lord Justice Hooper, Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Roderick Evans rejected the argument of his barrister, Jeffrey Samuels QC, that a manslaughter verdict should be substituted.
 
Mr Samuels argued that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to safely conclude that Reszpondek had intended to cause Mrs Rodgers serious harm or to kill her, necessary for a murder conviction.
 
But Lord Justice Hooper said Reszpondek's immediate reaction to the death was evidence that he had done something very wrong, far more than an assault with tragic consequences.
 
He said:
 
"Looking at his immediate reaction, looking at the evidence he gave to the jury that he had absolutely nothing to do with her death, the jury would be entitled to say that that is the reaction and that is evidence of someone who has murdered, rather than merely committed some minor assault."

Reszpondek faces at least 18 years behind bars before he can apply to the Parole Board for release, but will only then be freed if he is considered safe.