Teenager jailed for murder of 12-year-old friend after luring him to woods in decapitation attempt

A teenager has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years and 36 days for murdering his 12-year-old friend after luring him to woodland and attempting to decapitate him.

Marcel Grzeszcz, 15, stabbed Roberts Buncis more than 70 times with a wound to the neck that was "consistent with a decapitation attempt", a trial at Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Grzeszcz repeatedly stabbed Roberts on ground off Alcorn Green in Fishtoft, near Boston, Lincolnshire, on December 12 last year, just two days before his 13th birthday.

He admitted manslaughter midway through his trial but denied murder.

The defendant claimed the victim had taken the knife to the scene and he "lost control" when the youngster attempted to stab him.

But jurors dismissed his argument and concluded he was "motivated by anger".

Grzeszcz 'carried out a savage and brutal attack' upon Roberts, trial hears

Sentencing the youth on Monday, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker told him: "Marcel Grzeszcz, in the early hours of Saturday 12 December 2020, you lured Roberts Buncis to a wooded area of Boston where you carried out a savage and brutal attack upon him with a knife which you had brought to the scene, in the course of which you made a determined effort to remove his head, before leaving his body for others to find later that same morning."

He added: "There was a significant degree of planning and premeditation, including luring the deceased to the scene and taking the knife with you when you met up with him.

"When the two of you met up in the wooded area, I’m satisfied while the deceased was unarmed and unaware of what was to take place, you came armed with a large knife and with latex gloves intending at that time, at the very least, to cause him serious bodily harm."

Grzeszcz was forced to leave his old primary school after bringing a knife on to the site

The trial previously heard Grzeszcz was forced to leave St Nicholas Primary after bring a knife on to the premises, and was sent to a pupil referral unit.

The defendant then moved to Haven High Academy, where he stayed for around three years, but was excluded for selling drugs both in and out of school.

Grzeszcz was then sent to a pupil referral unit where he started the day before Roberts was found dead.

In submissions made to the court by the prosecutor, Mary Loram QC, the judge was told the attack was “more than a simple stabbing”.

'My life is in a cemetery, I feel empty', Roberts' father Edgars Buncis says

Ms Loram said: “This was a deliberate and planned attack on a young boy who was deceived to get to the place where he was killed.”

In a short victim impact statement read to the court on behalf of Roberts’ father, Edgars Buncis, he said: “How do I put into words how I feel?

“This is all wrong. No father should ever have to bury their son.

“Nothing is a reason for this. I have lost my destination and my purpose.

“My life is in a cemetery. I feel empty and nothing will change this.”

Giving his ruling on the decision to lift the anonymity order placed on Grzeszcz, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said: "I’m satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to dispose of the anonymity order and continuing the order would impose an unreasonable restriction at this stage."

The judge added he was satisfied he should rule "in favour of open justice rather than the defendant’s welfare".

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Myszczyszyn, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “This is an utterly tragic case. I would like to pay tribute to the people who loved Roberts, and had to deal with losing him in such brutal and horrific circumstances.

"Their support for our investigation has been unwavering, and their bravery has been an inspiration. Nothing could bring Roberts back, but our commitment was to try to find some semblance of justice for a grieving family and community."