Drifter jailed for 34 years for double murder

An ex-soldier was this afternoon found guilty of battering and stabbing to death two devoted grandparents in their Black Country home.

Ireneusz Bartnowski murdered 80-year-old Giuseppe Massaro and his wife Caterina, 77, in the house where they had lived since arriving in Wolverhampton from their native Italy more than 50 years ago.

Jurors took just over a day to find the 22-year-old guilty of both killings after a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court

The Polish drifter was handed a 34 year jail term.

Bartnowski had been staying with his sister Agniewska Ciok, who lived next door to the couple in Woden Road, Park Village, since coming to this country just eight days before the murders.

West Midlands Police have issued a family statement.

It said: "As a family we've needed closure and having the person responsible receive a guilty verdict has lifted a burden off of us.

"We wish to thank God, the police and victims support for the justice we have received today and after this year of turmoil we will finally be able to move on with our lives. However that does not diminish the fact that they were taken in such a tragic way and we will miss them every day of our lives.

"We will never understand why but we hope in prison he gets what he truly deserves and is subjected to the very pain, violence and fear my grandparents were subjected to. We hope the very moments that have confined him will torment and disturb his corrupted mind every moment of everyday."

By John Scott

* See tomorrow's Express & Star for a two-page special report