Crimestoppers call for help in murder hunt

Charity offers £10,000 to find those responsible for kidnap, torture and murder of Birmingham man.

The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information after a Polish national was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Birmingham.

Tomasz Samel, who was 45-years-old, was abducted from his home in Raleigh Close, Handsworth in a white Peugeot Boxer van, registration number OY55 MVT, by three men. The victim was abducted at around 8.45am on Wednesday 27st March 2019. Kevin Wooden (pictured below) is wanted in connection with this.

On the same day, after being driven nearly 100 miles from his home, Mr Samel was dumped in Bickerstaffe, Lancashire. He suffered from 75% burns. At 10.45pm, he banged on the door of a property in the area to get help, before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Samel died from his injuries in a specialist burns unit in Liverpool on 21st June 2019.

The van used in this crime was seen earlier on the same day at Hopwood Park Services in Bromsgrove. CCTV footage of the murder suspects show them buying fluorescent tabards. It is believed these purchased items were used to deceive Mr Samel.

Gary Murray, Regional Manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “This is a shocking and horrendous crime and we are appealing to anybody with any information to speak to our charity 100% anonymously. What you know could make all of the difference to help get justice for Tomasz who suffered for months before eventually dying from his severe injuries.

“It is important to Crimestoppers that communities are kept safe. This is why we would like those behind this murder to be held responsible for their actions and to ensure they are unable to cause harm to anybody else. If you have any information about Kevin Wooden and his whereabouts, you can tell our charity anonymously.

“Crimestoppers has been taking crime information for over 32 years. We have always kept our promise of anonymity to the millions of people who have trusted us. Indeed, every day over a thousand people contact us.

“You can speak to us anonymously by calling our UK Contact Centre which is open 24/7 on 0800 555 111, or you can use our easy and secure anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. I would like to emphasize that no matter how insignificant you think the information you have may be, please contact us.”