Man stabbed his Leeds housemate to death during drunken fight over missing booze

A man stabbed his housemate to death during a drink-fuelled fight after being accused of stealing his friend's alcohol.
Bartolmiej Dedek.Bartolmiej Dedek.
Bartolmiej Dedek.

Bartolmiej Dedek had drunk four litres of cider and two bottles of wine during his shift working at a restaurant before inflicting the fatal stab wound upon Stawomir Burdalski.

A court heard Mr Burdalski was almost six times the legal limit for driving when he was killed at the house on Bexley Mount, Harehills.

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Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court the two men, both Polish nationals, lived at the property and were heavy drinkers.

The fatal attack happened in the early hours of February 12 this year after Dedek returned from work and was accused by Mr Burdalski of drinking his alcohol.

Mr Sharp said the argument escalated and Mr Burdalski, 40, produced a knife and used it to cut Dedek’s face.

Dedek, 34, managed to take the knife from his friend during a struggle and stabbed Mr Burdalski once to his left thigh.

The wound severed an artery, causing him to bleed to death.

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Dedek threw the knife out of the front door then dialled 999.

Another housemate attempted to staunch the bleeding and tried to resuscitate Mr Burdalski but he died at the scene.

Mr Sharp said Dedek claimed somebody else had stabbed his friend when he made the call to emergency services.

He was arrested and taken to hospital to have the cut to his face treated.

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Dedek told a police officer at the hospital: “That guy, we were fighting together.”

Dedek pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard Dedek has served prison sentences in Poland for robbery, theft, attempted burglary and possessing drugs.

He moved to the UK in 2008 and has appeared before the courts in this country for possessing a knuckle duster in public.

In 2011 he was given a community order for threatening his girlfriend with a knife after accusing her of cheating on him.

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Dedek later told a probation that he felt “no guilt” over Mr Burdalski’s death.

He described a typical day’s alcohol intake would involve him drinking ten beers before starting work, then continuing to drink during his shift.

Dedek said he accepted that his offending was linked to alcohol abuse but would continue to drink if he was released from custody.

Abdul Iqbal, QC, mitigating, said it was not a case where Dedek had deliberately armed himself before the attack, as the knife had initially been produced by Mr Burdalski.

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Dedek was given an extended prison sentence totalling 14 years.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, said he was imposing the sentence as he considered Dedek to pose serious risk to members of the public.

The judge said: “You have little insight in to what you have done.

Alcohol has been a theme throughout your offending and continues to be a risk factor.”

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Dedek must serve a custodial term of nine years, followed by five years on licence.

After the case, Detective Superintendent Pat Twiggs, of West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Dedek killed Stawomir Budalski during an alcohol-fuelled argument at the address they shared.

“His death starkly illustrates the tragic consequences of people drinking too much alcohol, and how the use of a knife in a fight can quickly end up costing someone their life.

“Dedek has shown no remorse for the pain he has caused Stawomir’s family and we hope the significant period he will now spend in prison will provide some comfort to them and afford him the opportunity to address his issues with alcohol.”