Two men who brutally attacked a homeless man have been handed a combined sentence of over 40 years for murder thanks to advanced DNA techniques.
Ernestas Aleksandrovas, 29, and Arturas Ptickinas, 29, both of Norwood High Street, West Norwood, were found guilty of the “merciless” killing on Friday, January 20, at Kingston Crown Court.
They returned to the court today (Wednesday, January 25) to be sentenced for the murder of Mauricio ‘Maurice’ Nascimento.
Ptickinas was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for murder and three months’ imprisonment for burglary. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Aleksandrovas was sentenced to 19 years and six months’ imprisonment for murder and 12 months’ imprisonment for perverting the course of justice. His sentences are also to run concurrently.
Forensic tests carried out on the body of 44-year-old Mauricio revealed one-in-a-billion DNA matches with the pair.
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Case officer Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: “This case has clearly highlighted what can be achieved when detective ability and high level scientific expertise are combined.
“Maurice suffered a needless, brutal death and I am very happy that these two violent individuals will now spend a considerable number of years away from law abiding people.
“I hope that the substantial sentences handed down bring a measure of comfort to Maurice’s family and loved ones.”
“We will never know exactly what happened in the moments before Maurice Nascimento’s death, but, we do know that the attack on him was brutal, merciless and completely unjustified.”
On July 12, 2021, Mr Nascimento’s body was found in Rush Common, Brixton Hill.
He had suffered extensive injuries including a broken nose, fractured skull and neck and almost all his ribs were broken.
Police launched a murder investigation and a crime scene was established but detectives struggled to identify the perpetrators.
Forensic tests carried out on a belt discarded at the scene, and Maurice’s unbuttoned shirt, revealed a full DNA match with Ptickinas.
More DNA was discovered on his face and neck, where his attackers had struck him, but the standard tests couldn’t identify who it belonged to.
So a more specialist test was carried out and revealed a DNA match with Aleksandrovas.
Analysis of CCTV footage also showed the pair leaving their home and heading towards the Rush Common area when the murder was carried out.
This, coupled with the discovery that Aleksandrovas’ mobile phone connected to a telephone mast next to Rush Common at 3.16am on the night of the murder, helped build the case against the pair.
The two men were also convicted of perverting the course of justice.
DCI Jolley said: “I’m glad the two defendants have now been found guilty and will be off the streets of London for a long time.”
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