Armed police have been praised after dramatic bodycam footage captured the moment they arrested a killer who stabbed three people in a Gloucester flat before discarding the knife down a drain.
Violent Spree Ends in Broad Daylight Arrest
Kane Kotwica, 39, was convicted of murder at Bristol Crown Court for the killing of 53-year-old Matthew Cainey on May 28 this year. The court heard Kotwica also seriously wounded two other men during a violent altercation fuelled by drugs and alcohol.
Following the stabbings, Kotwica fled the scene in Gloucester and was seen on footage attempting to dispose of the weapon down a street drain. The subsequent police manhunt culminated in a dramatic confrontation, with officers from Gloucestershire Police armed with heavy weaponry arresting Kotwica in broad daylight.
Doorbell Camera Captures Harrowing Attack
The incident unfolded in a flat where Kotwica was with Mr Cainey, two other men, and two women. An initial argument saw Kotwica grab a kitchen knife and threaten one man, before a woman took the weapon from him and he was told to leave.
However, after loitering nearby for nearly 90 minutes, Kotwica returned with a concealed blade up his sleeve. He then stabbed Matthew Cainey once in the chest in the hallway, a wound that proved fatal. As the two other men tried to restrain him, one was stabbed in the chest and required life-saving surgery, while the other suffered a serious neck wound.
The entire harrowing altercation was recorded by a doorbell camera, with the footage later shown to the jury at court.
Jury Rejects Self-Defence Claim
Kotwica had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article but denied murder, claiming he acted in self-defence. The jury unanimously rejected his account, finding him guilty of Mr Cainey's murder.
The trial concluded on Friday, December 5. Kotwica was found not guilty of the attempted murders of the two other men but was convicted on two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday, December 10.
A Family's Heartbreak and Police Praise
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey of the Major Crime Investigation Team, who led the case, said: 'Kane Kotwica is a very dangerous and violent individual whose pre-meditated cowardly attack has robbed a family of their loved one and caused serious injury to two others.'
Following the verdicts, Matthew Cainey's family released a heartfelt statement: 'As a family we are heartbroken that this has happened. This is not how any life should end. Dad was always such a happy and cheeky man who loved his family and friends so much.'
They added their thanks to Gloucestershire Constabulary, saying: 'You've all been incredible and got the outcome that's deserved.'
