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VIDEO: Catherine Wells-Burr's family statement
Catherine Wells-Burr's family gave a statement to the media after three people were convicted of her murder today:
FULL REPORT: Wells-Burr murder - how it happened
Two men and a woman have been convicted of killing Somerset woman Catherine Wells-Burr.
Her former boyfriend Rafal Nowak, Anna Lagwinowicz and Tadevz Dymtryszyn had all denied the murder of the 23-year-old, but a jury today decided that they had committed the crime.
Catherine Wells-Burr was found dead in her burning car near Chard last year. Nowak, Lagwinowicz and Dymtryszyn will all be sentenced on Monday morning at Bristol Crown Court.
David Woodland reports.
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Wells-Burr murder convictions: Police statement
– Detective Inspector Simon CrispThis was a wicked crime committed against a bright and innocent young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. Rafal Nowak, Anna Lagwinowocz and Tadevz Dymtryszyn took both Catherine's and her family's future away from them on the night they carried out this calculated killing. They then tried to cover their tracks and mislead us in a bid to get away with what they had done.
– Detective Inspector Simon CrispMurder is a terrible crime but what makes this worse is the intricate planning that took place while Nowak pretended to care about Catherine – playing the doting boyfriend while plotting to take her life for a few thousand pounds. Their plan unravelled despite their best attempts to mislead us and today they have been found guilty of Catherine's murder.I would like to pay tribute to Catherine's family who have remained strong and dignified throughout. Their support to the investigate team has been invaluable.
– Detective Inspector Simon CrispWhile the verdict/sentence will never bring Catherine back I hope it goes some way in providing some closure knowing that justice has been done. Finally I'd like to thank our first rate prosecution team led by the CPS here in Bristol who coordinated a complicated and challenging case through to today's final conclusion.
Wells-Burr prosecutor's statement
– Melanie Ringland, Senior Crown prosecutor"We have worked closely with Avon and Somerset police throughout this extremely complex investigation. This investigation was meticulous. By piecing together numerous pieces of evidence the prosecution team were able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rafal Nowak, Anna Lagwinowicz and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn were guilty of this ruthless murder motivated by greed."
Pictures: Three convicted of murdering Catherine Wells-Burr
A jury has found two men and a woman guilty of killing Somerset woman Catherine Wells-Burr.
Her former boyfriend Rafal Nowak, Anna Lagwinowicz and Tadevsz Dmytryszyn ad all denied the murder of the twenty three year old, but a jury today decided that they had committed the crime.
Picture: Catherine's family giving statement to the media
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Killers plot to leave false trail for investigators
The defendants had spent months leaving a false trail for detectives before the murder, creating fake profiles for Miss Wells-Burr on adult websites and sending texts to her phone from a supposed mystery lover.
Business graduate used a number of social networking websites and at first Nowak and Lagwinowicz had attempted to lure the 23-year-old into flirting with other men, by targeting her accounts with suggestive messages.
But their plan was thwarted when Catherine either ignored the messages or replied "I have a boyfriend, leave me alone".
The killers instead launched a number of fake profiles for Miss Wells-Burr to leave a false trail for officers investigating after her death.
After their arrest Anna Lagwinowicz made another attempt to cover her tracks from prison, attempting to send a fake anonymous letter to prosecutors that claimed Rafal Nowak had first tried to hire a hit man to kill her.
When this failed, the letter stated, he decided to murder Miss Wells-Burr instead and plant evidence to point the death squarely at Lagwinowicz's hands.
However her scheme backfired when prosecutors were told by her cell mate about the letter and instead used details contained in the note to compile further evidence for her prosecution.
Family tribute to 'inspirational and beautiful Catherine'
The family of Catherine Wells-Burr said that they are "devastated by the betrayal" of Rafal Nowak who has been found guilty of her murder.
In a statement her family paid tribute to the. "inspirational, amazing, caring, kind, intelligent young woman."
Leanne, Phil and I are here today because of the cruel, callous, wicked, evil and sickening act of murder against "Our beautiful Catherine."
Catherine was an inspirational, amazing, caring, kind, intelligent young woman, who had her whole life ahead of her with so much potential after gaining her First Class Bachelor of Honours Degree in Business Management at Bath Spa University. We were all very proud of her and the person she had become.
The hatred shown to her has truly shocked us, especially the hatred shown by Rafal Nowak, a man who was meant to have loved her.
His betrayal to our family has devastated us. We treated him like a son and family member.
Anna Lagwinowicz has been devious, manipulative and calculating, her actions to create such sickening false profiles of Catherine demonstrate this and as a result these evil people have made us question our judge of character and trust in people - we trust no-one.
Our world as we knew it has fallen apart. Our lives used to be fun, full of laughter and love. We can see no future without "Our Beautiful Catherine". We are heart broken. No prison sentence will ever be enough. In this country life is not life and we feel it should be.
We are the ones facing the life sentence without her.
Wells Burr: Three convicted to be sentenced next week
All three people convicted for the murder of 23-year-old Somerset woman, Catherine Wells-Burr, will be sentenced on Monday morning at 10am at Bristol Crown Court.
Wells-Burr conviction: How the jury voted
A jury has found three people guilty of the murder of Somerset woman Catherine Wells-Burr.
The 23-year-old was murdered by her boyfriend Rafal Nowak and two accomplices, who then burnt her body in her car.
- Rafal Nowak, Catherine's Boyfriend - Jury voted unanimously
- Anna Lagwinowicz, Nowak's ex lover - Jury voted with majority (10:2)
- Tadevsz Dmytryszyn, uncle of Lagwinowyczm - Jury voted with majority (10:2)
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