Murder charge after man kidnapped and killed

Tomasz Samel was kidnapped in March 2019 and died after suffering 75% burns

A man has been charged with the murder of a 45-year-old who was kidnapped from his home in Birmingham and driven to Lancashire before being killed, six years ago.

Victim Tomasz Samel was taken from his home on Raleigh Close in Handsworth in a white van on 27 March 2019, and banged on the door of a property in Bickerstaffe, Lancashire, later that day to get help.

Suffering from 75% burns, he was taken to hospital but died in a specialist burns unit in Liverpool, on 21 June 2019.

West Midlands Police have now charged Tobiasz Kozlowski, 38, from Liverpool, with murder, conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison another, and conspiracy to cause GBH with intent.

Mr Kozlowski appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 26 September and was remanded in custody. He is next due to appear at the city's crown court on 24 October.

Sandra Kozlowska, aged 37, from Liverpool, was also arrested and has now been charged with assisting an offender.

She is due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 24 October.

Det Ch Supt Scott Griffiths, leading the investigation, said: "We have not stopped in our pursuit of justice for Tomasz and his loved ones, and today is a significant step forward in our investigation.

"But our work continues, and we would urge anyone with information who has not already spoken to us to please get in touch."