Judge rules triple Shropshire killing suspect not fit to plead

A judge ruled today that a 58-year-old Shropshire man, charged with murdering three men in the county almost 17 years ago, was not fit to plead at his trial.

Robin Stanislaw Ligus is alleged to have killed the three victims - Brian Coles, Trevor Bradley and Bernard Czyzewska - in Shropshire over a seven-month period in 1994.

At Birmingham Crown Court today Mr Justice Colman Treacy said that Ligus was unfit to plead having considered extensive medical and psychiatric reports.

The court also heard direct evidence from consultants during today's plea and management hearing.

"In due course a jury will try the case to determine whether the defendant was responsible for the acts leading to the deaths of the three people named in the charges," said Mr Justice Treacy.

A heavily-bearded Ligus, wearing a black tracksuit top and red T-shirt, appeared at court for the two-hour hearing via a video link with Woodhill Prison in Buckinghamshire where he is being held on remand.

Ligus is charged with killing 53-year-old Mr Bradley, from Ludlow, who was found dead in a burnt-out car near Melverley, Shropshire, between March 25 and April 28, 1994.

He is also accused of murdering 57-year-old Mr Coles, who was found dead at his home in Heathwood Road, Higher Heath, between October 10 and 15, 1994, and 36-year-old Mr Czyzewska, from Harlescott, Shrewsbury, whose body was found in the River Severn, in November the same year.

The charges against Ligus, formerly of Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, follow a cold case review.

A trial in the case is due to start next month.