Trio convicted of killing property developer in Brook Green

Three builders, two of them from Acton, have been found guilty of murdering a property developer at his home in Brook Green.

Slawomir Bugajewski, 39, of Braid Avenue, Acton, Ireneusz Mydlarz, 33, of Broomgrove Gardens, Edgware, and Dawid Rymar, 24 Birkbeck Road Acton, W3, were today (10th August) found guilty of murdering 58 year-old William Saunderson-Smith on 21 October 2011.

They were sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation they serve at least 30 years.

Rose-marie Jones, the victim's cousin, said after the verdict, "When I received the phone call from Chris and my dad to say that William had been murdered, I just couldn't believe it. Why would someone want to murder William, he was one of the nicest, politest guys you could wish to meet, I just couldn't understand it, surely if they had wanted money then all they had to do was ask and I am sure William would have given."

Detective Inspector John Finch of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said, "During the early stages of this murder enquiry we were faced with a number of unanswered questions regarding Mr Saunderson-Smith's lifestyle and social circle owing to his apparent reclusive lifestyle.

"He had, prior to his death, dedicated his whole time to his property development business, and recent renovations, which he entrusted to the three builders.

"Bugajewski, Rymar and Mydlarz carried out work for Mr Saunderson-Smith but they also returned to rob and kill their employer for money which they knew was hidden at the address. As a result of a meticulous investigation were able to were able to identify and arrest the three builders, who had fled the UK with the £2,000 that they had stolen. Today they have been held to account for their despicable actions and will now face jail terms."

During a four-week trial, the court heard how police and paramedics came to Dewhurst Road in the middle of the afternoon to find the beaten body of Mr. Saunderson-Smith (12/2/53), commonly known as 'John', on the floor of the attic bedroom. He had been found by his 16 year-old personal assistant.

In the days that followed, an extensive forensic search was conducted throughout the address, during which detectives identifying that the were signs of a break-in. Officers also recovered a number of plastic bags containing in excess of £225,000 in cash secreted around the address.

A further property belonging to Mr Saunderson-Smith in Seddlescombe Road SW6, was immediately searched, at which more than £100,000 was found similarly hidden.

A post-mortem gave cause of death as head injury caused by blunt trauma. The murder weapon was never found.

It transpired through telephone evidence, that Mr Saunderson-Smith had sent a text message to Rymar, who along with two other men Bugajewski and Mydlarz, had recently completed cash-in-hand building work at Mr Saunderson-Smith's address. Following the murder, Rymar, Bugajewski and Mydlarz had immediately fled the UK to their native Poland. Mydlarz was traced to north London having returned from Poland.

Bugajewski was traced and arrested on 16 November 2011. His vehicle was also seized in which a full DNA profile from Mr Saunderson-Smith's blood was traced.

Detectives were able to locate Rymar with assistance from the police in Warsaw, and he agreed to return to the UK for interview. He was subsequently arrested upon arrival into Luton Airport.

August 14, 2012