Police must act swiftly after a vulnerable man is assaulted in his own home and left for dead in the latest instalment of Murder: Suspect No 1.
The Channel 5 series, which airs on Monday 24 February at 9pm, follows Humberside Police’s homicide team as it investigates a succession of violent deaths over the course of a year.
In the fifth episode covering the fourth case, detectives are hunting the attacker of Anthony Ibbitson who was beaten and left unconscious in a flat which was set ablaze.
We take a look at what happened to him and his assailant Mark Vaskouski.
Anthony Ibbitson, known locally as Tony, was at his flat in Terry Street, Hull on the evening of Wednesday 29 November 2023 when he was visited by Mark Vaskouski.
Vaskouski, originally from Belarus, is understood to have gone to Mr Ibbitson’s home to threaten to kill him, demanding drugs and money.
During the confrontation, Vaskouski attacked the 54-year-old punching, kicking and strangling him causing serious injuries to his face, neck and head and leaving him unconscious.
At the time, Mr Ibbitson’s flat had been lit by candlelight as he had had his electricity supply cut off due to an apparent non-payment to the supplier.
And as Vaskouski fled the scene it is believed a blaze had already started in the property, he was heard shouting “Give me all the drugs” and “Enjoy the fire – get out” that night.
Audio of the attack was captured on a CCTV camera at the rear of the property.
The fire quickly spread through the property and at about 8.40pm passing members of the public saw smoke and raised the alarm.
They could hear snoring or heavy breathing coming from a window and so thought someone may be trapped inside.
Firefighters using breathing apparatus managed to get into the flat, now engulfed in flames, and found Mr Ibbitson in his bedroom.
He was still alive but had suffered significant injuries and burns and was suffering from smoke inhalation.
Taken by ambulance to Hull Royal Infirmary and then on to the regional burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital, he was found to have suffered 36 per cent burns on his body.
He remained in hospital for two days but despite the efforts of medical staff, he died from his injuries on 1 December 2023.
A post-mortem revealed he had suffered multiple blunt force blows consistent with being forcefully punched and kicked which had caused serious injuries and a brain injury which had rendered him unconscious.
Detectives had identified that Vaskouski, then aged 27, had visited the flat from extensive CCTV footage of the area.
And on Wednesday 13 December 2023, he was arrested at his home address at Stroud Crescent East, Bransholme on suspicion of murder.
Vaskouski denied in police interviews he had done anything but was charged with murder and his trial began at Hull Crown Court in August last year.
During the court proceedings, he claimed Mr Ibbitson’s injuries may have been caused when he and the pair fell together during a confrontation.
A post-mortem had revealed Mr Ibbitson had suffered fractures to bone and cartilage consistent with strangling.
The jury heard four weeks of evidence before returning their verdict, finding Vaskouski guilty of murder.
Zoe Nixon from the Crown Prosecution Service said at the time: “Mark Vaskouski left his unconscious and fatally injured victim in a burning building.
“This was the most callous and appalling crime and our thoughts remain with Tony Ibbitson’s family at this devastating time.”
Detective Chief Inspector Amy Keane-Christie, who led the murder investigation, said: “The attack that Vaskouski subjected Anthony to that day cost him his life, leaving his loved ones the heart break of navigating a future without him.
“Tony’s family have shown incredible bravery and patience throughout the course of the investigation and proceedings and I cannot begin to imagine how they have felt having to relive the loss and trauma whilst Vaskouski denied his involvement in Tony’s death.
“It is without a doubt that he is a violent and dangerous man who subjected a helpless man to a prolonged, violent and barbaric attack.
“Without the hard work, tenacity and dedication of the investigation team Vaskouski would have carried on with his life without a second thought for Anthony or his family.”
Vaskouski was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years.
He will be deported at the end of his sentence.
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