Murder accused made 'fresh start'

The brothers were last seen alive at the Luton Carnival

A Polish man accused of the murder of two brothers said he came to England for a fresh start, jurors have heard.

Marek Miazga, 41, of Brook Street, Luton, denies murdering Waldemar Markuszewski, 43, and Andrzej, known as Andreaus, Markuszewski, 46.

The bodies were found at their home in Luton on 1 June 2005 - two days after they were last seen at Luton Carnival.

Luton Crown Court heard how Mr Miazga, a builder, came to the UK to set up a new life for his partner and baby son.

Mr Miazga denies killing the brothers, one of whom he described as his best friend, and eight other counts of theft.

'Christmas spent together'

The prosecution allege he killed the men in a row over money, and then stole a bank card belonging to Waldermar (known as Waldeck).

The court heard Mr Miazga had left Poland in May 2004 and started work in a wholesaler.

"I wanted to change my life. I wanted to have a fresh start," he told the court.

Mr Miazga met Waldeck soon after he came to England and had been working with him since December 2004, while living in Bletchley.

He, his partner and their child moved in with the brothers in Luton shortly after Christmas that year.

"I spent Christmas 2004 with Waldeck and Andreaus together," Mr Miazga said.

"I was commuting to Luton every day to work with Waldeck. When he came over for Christmas to Bletchley we decided together that we were going to rent a property in Luton and we were going to live together.

"I was his best friend. We were spending all our free time together."

CCTV images

The court heard Waldeck had moved out of the house in April 2005 but they remained in close contact and although Mr Miazga no longer worked for him, Waldeck was giving him work to do.

The court heard on the 30 May the pair met to talk about a building job and had drunk several bottles of vodka in a Luton park.

They later met another Polish man, Remiguez Piotowski, and continued drinking.

CCTV pictures show the men walking through Luton town centre that day.

The trial continues.