Former neighbours of a Polish man who murdered his ex-partner in front of their young children in Perth say ”justice has been done” after he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Maciej Hetmanski (39) had previously admitted assaulting Aleksandra Korkus (28), also a Polish national known as Ola, at an address in Firbank Road, Perth, on June 16.
The car mechanic stabbed the young mother 45 times, with her children, Nadia (6) and Alan (2), in the flat at the time.
Lord Turnbull, who described the crime as ”despicable”, ordered that Hetmanski should serve at least 15 years in prison.
Former neighbours Aaron Taylor (29) and his wife Georgina (32), of Perth, told The Courier that ”justice had been done for Ola”. They had travelled to Edinburgh for Wednesday’s verdict and said it was ”quite emotional”.
They had lived in a flat above Hetmanski and their daughter Taylar (9) heard ”screams” on the day of the murder.
Mr Taylor said: ”It’s never going to bring Ola back but at least the children will be older when Maciej can be considered for release.
”It was upsetting for Kamila, Ola’s sister, and us as a family. But at least it’s piece of mind for Kamila. We couldn’t have asked for a better sentence.”
He continued: ”It was quite difficult as the defence put their side across. We’re quite relieved all round it was an unexpected sentence I thought he might get nine years.
”I had been looking at similar cases on the internet and the sentences were more lenient. I was actually taken aback by what he got.”
Mrs Taylor, who said she was best friends with Ms Korkus, added: ”A life should be for a life but it doesn’t work like that. It won’t bring Ola back but it’s good the children will be adults when he (Hetmanski) gets out and they can make up their own minds then.”
She added: ”Maciej had made life hell for Ola. She was screaming for help when being attacked but he kept stabbing her.
”I asked him to stop but he just looked at me and continued. Little Alan was in the room but there was nothing I could do. I managed to take Nadia outside but feel I could have done more.”
Miss Korkus died en route to Ninewells Hospital.
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The court heard Hetmanski had a previous conviction for a domestic assault on his victim, which resulted in him being fined £150.
Advocate depute Susanne Tanner told the court the couple had been together for nine years but split up in May 2009 at the request of Miss Korkus. They arrived in Perth in 2007.
Miss Korkus moved to a different house in Perth after the separation, although the couple continued to share care of the children.
On the day of the murder, the advocate depute said Mrs Taylor had gone into Hetmanski’s home after she heard shouting and screaming.
When the police arrived they found Hetmanski coming out of the bedroom with blood on his hands and clothes.
Sentencing Hetmanski, Lord Turnbull told him: ”No words can convey the extent of the trauma which was caused to your young children by witnessing the horrific murder or their mother.
”No one adult has the right to determine the life of another. Your former partner had the right to live in a relationship of her choice and to terminate that relationship should she wish to do so.
”Grief, upset and despair at the end of a relationship cannot count as any form of mitigation for a murder during which your victim was stabbed 45 times while desperately trying to defend herself.”
Detective Inspector Jim Smith, the senior investigating officer of the case, said Tayside Police welcomed the sentencing for the ”brutal murder”.
”The circumstances surrounding her death were tragic, and made all the worse by the fact her children were present during the attack.
”This was an unprovoked attack on Aleksandra, carried out without any compassion for her or indeed any consideration for the effect the attack would have on the children who were present. My thoughts and that of my colleagues and the partner agencies who were involved in the investigation are with the family of Aleksandra and her children at this time.”
A spokeswoman for the Perth Polish Support Group said they didn’t wish to comment on the court verdict.
”We raised money (£1400) for Ola’s children but don’t wish to speak about this,” she said.