Child killer who fled UK in dinghy jailed for murder

A killer who fled the UK in a dinghy after murdering his ex-partner's teenage son has been jailed.

Suliman Altaf, 45, was caught in the English Channel a day after he fatally stabbed Jakub Szymanski in Manchester in June 2022.

The 15-year-old had been trying to protect his mother, Katarzyna Bastek, who Altaf also stabbed 13 times.

Altaf was given a life sentence at Manchester Crown Court and told he must serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.

Paying tribute to her son, Ms Bastek described Jakub as "a special hero" with a "special smile and a special face".

She added: "Kuba, we can't and will never replace you.

"You gave your love that day, your whole life through. God bless you Jakub, we love you."

Altaf, of Slough, turned up at the family's home in Miles Platting on 9 June 2022 armed with a knife and wearing a surgical mask and latex gloves, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

He let himself into the house and stabbed Ms Bastek repeatedly, before fatally wounding Jakub as he tried to protect his mother.

The teenager sustained injuries to his neck and arms and was pronounced dead an hour after the attack.

Jakub Szymanski (left) was stabbed while trying to defend his mother from Altaf

Ms Bastek suffered multiple knife wounds, including to her head, and sustained fractures in her face and ribs and a collapsed lung.

CCTV footage showed Altaf was only in the house for two minutes before he was seen running away with blood on his face.

He then spent £350 on a taxi to take him to Slough, before heading to the coast to attempt the crossing in a dinghy.

The CPS said he was intercepted by an RLNI lifeboat crew on the evening of 10 June.

He told the crew that he had intended to sail to France before travelling to Portugal.

After an hour of negotiation, Altaf eventually agreed to leave the dinghy and was taken back to shore where he was arrested.

Altaf was only in the house for two minutes to carry out the "savage" murder, police say

In a police interview, Altaf said he had been acting in self-defence after being attacked by the boy and his mother.

At trial, he was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and possession of a knife in a public place.

Senior investigating officer Philip Reade, said it was an "extremely vicious, frenzied and targeted attack" and Jakub was "savagely murdered whilst trying to defend his mum from certain death".

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