Man in court accused of three Shropshire murders

A 58-YEAR-OLD Shropshire man accused of murdering three county men in 1994 today appeared in court for the first time in person over the deaths.

Robin Stanislaw Ligus, of Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, appeared in a wheelchair flanked by four security guards, for the brief appearance at Birmingham Crown Court today.

Ligus, who has long grey hair and a long beard, stood for the judge to arrive in the courtroom but remained in his wheelchair throughout. He spoke only to confirm his name and did not enter a plea.

Ligus is charged with murdering 53-year-old antiques dealer Trevor Bradley, of Sidney Road, Ludlow, between April 25 and April 28, 1994.

He is also accused of murdering 57-year-old Brian Coles, of Higher Heath, near Whitchurch, between October 10 and October 15, 1994, and murdering 36-year-old Bernard Czyzewska, of Shrewsbury, between November 18 and November 21 in the same year.

Unsolved

Mr Bradley's body was found in his burned out car in Melverley, near Oswestry, Mr Coles was found dead at his bungalow and the body of Mr Czyzewska was found in the River Severn in Shrewsbury. The deaths of the three men have remained unsolved for the last 17 years.

Ligus has previously appeared in court on two occasions via video link from HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire.

Judge William Davis QC, the recorder of Birmingham, today adjourned the case for a plea and case management hearing at the court on February 21 where Ligus will appear again.

Ligus was remanded in custody.

The body of Mr Bradley was exhumed last year as part of a cold case review.

Detectives had made several re-appeals over the last 17 years in an attempt to find anybody with information about Mr Bradley's death to come forward.

The investigations into the other two deaths were closed following the initial probes after inquests concluded Mr Coles suffered his head injuries from a series of falls at his home and Mr Czyzewska fell in the river after drinking alcohol or may have been pulled into the water by his dog.

The deaths were all later reopened as cold case reviews.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman