Teen arrested over murder of homeless man Piotr Krowka
DETECTIVES Investigating the murder of a homeless man whose body was found in a derelict house in Derry have arrested a 19-year-old man.
Piotr Krowka, who is understood to be in his late 30s, was a Polish national who had been living in Maghera for several years, police said.
His body was discovered in a former parochial house on Glen Road in the town on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said he had suffered serious injuries to his head and body.
The teenager was arrested in the Maghera area on Friday evening and remains in police custody.
Earlier, Det Ch Insp Geoff Boyce of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said he believed Mr Krowka was a “vulnerable homeless man” and had been sleeping rough in the property.
“I can now confirm we are treating this as a murder investigation following the results of his post-mortem,” he said.
“I am keen to identify Piotr’s movements between Good Friday and Easter Tuesday when his body was discovered.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in contact with, or who may have witnessed Piotr, during this time to please contact us.”
The Democratic Unionist Party MLA Keith Buchanan said people in the area had been saddened by the news.
“This is a quiet, rural community where neighbours are shocked that a man has been murdered on their doorstep,” he said.
“I know the entire area will be holding this man’s family foremost in their thoughts.”
Ian Milne, a Sinn Féin MLA, said he wanted to “send my sympathies to the family and friends of the victim”.
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