OLDHAM MAN JAILED FOR BRUTAL MURDER AND DESECRATION OF GIRLFRIEND
Daniel Smith, aged 41, from Park Road in Oldham, was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Imogen Bohajczuk, who was 29 years old.The body of the victim was discovered in an Oldham flat on March 4th, bearing multiple stab injuries and evidence of severe violence, including bruising and attempted strangulation marks.
Smith carried out a brutal assault that involved a forceful stab wound, which punctured her lung and caused a rib to break.
He had a history of violent and abusive conduct towards women, and the victim had previously reported an incident in late February when Smith came to visit and became violent, strangling her and threatening her with a knife, stating, "I thought I was going to die." When authorities arrived at the scene, she was lying on her bed in supported accommodation, with a bloodstained knife recovered nearby.
In police interviews, Smith admitted to causing her death but claimed his actions were uncharacteristic.
He also said that he had drunkenly written “it was me” in red nail varnish on her leg as a confession, which was interpreted as a display of cruelty and callousness.
During sentencing, Judge Patrick Field QC set a minimum sentence of 17.5 years and condemned the act as a brutal expression of dominance, referencing the graffiti on her leg.
Smith’s violent history and abusive tendencies were emphasized in court proceedings.
The victim’s mother voiced her heartbreak, revealing that her daughter had discussed plans to rebuild her life with her young son and cherished her family dearly.
