A retiree was allegedly murdered by a man who then moved his family into the victim’s home, took his savings and pension, and carried out renovations, a court has heard.
Ibrahim Yosif, 44, is accused of killing Gary Piatek, 60, who disappeared on April 18, 2024, after travelling to Leicester for an evening of drinking.
Leicester Crown Court heard that Yosif and members of his family allegedly emptied Piatek’s bank accounts because they believed he would never be able to expose what they had done.
Jurors were told that Piatek had lived an “unassuming life” at Broad Avenue in Leicester’s Evington area, where he had spent most of his life.
Prosecutor Harpreet Sandhu KC said: “By April of 2024, he had in effect retired and he was paid a pension which was more than adequate to meet his modest lifestyle.
“Gary Piatek would have continued living perfectly happily in that way, save for what happened on the 18th of April of 2024.
“On the 18th of April 2024, Gary Piatek did what he did ordinarily. He left his home, travelled by bus towards Leicester and visited a couple of pubs.
“However, the 18th of April 2024 was not an ordinary day. That evening, Gary Piatek went missing. He has not been seen or heard from since.
Gary Piatek, 60, was allegedly murdered by a man who later moved his family into the victim’s home, took his savings and pension, and renovated the property, a court has heard
The victim lived an “unassuming life” on Broad Avenue (pictured) in Leicester’s Evington area, where he had spent most of his life, jurors were told
“The prosecution’s case is that there has been neither sight nor sound of Gary Piatek because he was murdered.”
Mr Sandhu said Yosif began renovating the property “within days of his disappearance” and completely transformed the house for his family.
The prosecutor said: “Within weeks or months, Ibrahim Yosif had moved into the house on Broad Avenue with his wife, Dilan Rabati.
“He had also moved into Gary Piatek’s home with his sister-in-law, Dalya Rabati. Dalya Rabati’s then husband, Ahmed Nabla, also moved into the property.
“They moved into Gary Piatek’s house and together began draining his bank accounts of his money.
“They also began withdrawing money from Gary Piatek’s pension fund.”
The court heard that Yosif, Dalya Rabati and another man, Nazem Kakamando, allegedly created a false tenancy agreement to make it appear that Yosif was renting the house from Piatek.
Mr Sandhu told the court: “These defendants were able to renovate Gary Piatek’s home, live in it and drain his bank accounts and pension fund because they were confident that Gary Piatek would never say a thing about what they were up to.
“That’s because after the 18th of April 2024, he was no longer alive.
“Ibrahim Yosif and Omed Firuzmand were, the prosecution says, responsible for murdering Gary Piatek.”
‘Following that murder, Mabast Khalid and Diar Muhammedy assisted Ibrahim Yosif and Omed Firuzmand, and they did that by providing Omed Firuzmand with accommodation and by washing items.’
Omed Firuzmand, 25, is also charged with murder while six other defendants also face charges relating to the man’s disappearance.
Yosif and Firuzmand both deny murder and preventing a lawful burial.
Khalid, 22, and Muhammedy, 35, deny assisting an offender.
Yosif, Dilan Rabati, 35, Dalya Rabati, 30, and Nabla, 34, deny seven counts of fraud, which included taking money from Mr Piatek’s NatWest account, TSB accounts, his Legal and General pension account, MBNA credit card, NewDay credit card, and Debenhams credit card, the court heard.
Yosif, Dalya Rabati and Kakamando, 51, deny making articles to use in fraud, namely a tenancy agreement.
Kakamando denies a further charge of possessing criminal property, namely £148,750 in cash.
All eight defendants sat in the dock to hear the prosecution opening, assisted by two Kurdish Sorani interpreters.
The trial, which is expected to last eight weeks, continues.
