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| Ambassador thanks murder police | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| North Wales Police officers who solved the murder of an Indonesian woman have been thanked in person by the country's UK ambassador. | |
| Ermatati Rodgers, 41, was murdered by Lukasz and buried in a shallow grave near Wrexham in 2008. | Ermatati Rodgers, 41, was murdered by Lukasz and buried in a shallow grave near Wrexham in 2008. |
| Reszpondek, 28, was jailed for a minimum 18 years, after which he should be deported back to Poland. | Reszpondek, 28, was jailed for a minimum 18 years, after which he should be deported back to Poland. |
| Ambassador Yuri Octavian Thamrin thanked officers involved at Wrexham police station. | |
| He was presented with a Welsh slate plaque inscribed with the message: "To commemorate the mutual co-operation between North Wales Police and Republik Indonesia during the successful investigation of the death of Ermatati Rodgers." | |
| He handed a "plaque of appreciation" to divisional commander, chief superintendent Ruth Purdie, as well as certificates to the investigation team. | |
| The ambassador said: "I'm very glad to have the opportunity to be here. | |
| "This is my first visit to the Wrexham area. I find it very beautiful." | |
| He said Indonesian people both at home and in the UK had contacted the embassy throughout the 14-month investigation. | |
| Ermatati Rodgers' body was found 14 months after she went missing | |
| He thanked the team for their "high degree of professionalism" on behalf of the embassy, his country and the Indonesian people. | |
| Reszpondek, a dairy worker, was jailed for life in November 2009 for murdering 41-year-old Ms Rodgers, from Wrexham. | Reszpondek, a dairy worker, was jailed for life in November 2009 for murdering 41-year-old Ms Rodgers, from Wrexham. |
| The trial at Mold Crown Court heard how the married father-of-two met divorcee Ms Rodgers at a Dairy Crest plant in the town. | The trial at Mold Crown Court heard how the married father-of-two met divorcee Ms Rodgers at a Dairy Crest plant in the town. |
| After returning with his wife and two young children to Poland for Christmas 2007, Reszpondek drove 900 miles back to the UK while his family were to follow later by plane. | After returning with his wife and two young children to Poland for Christmas 2007, Reszpondek drove 900 miles back to the UK while his family were to follow later by plane. |
| Once back in Wrexham, he and Mrs Rodgers met at his home in Rhostyllen, and "against a background of the emotional and conflicting demands of the eternal triangle of a wife and another woman", he lost his temper and strangled his lover, the jury was told. | Once back in Wrexham, he and Mrs Rodgers met at his home in Rhostyllen, and "against a background of the emotional and conflicting demands of the eternal triangle of a wife and another woman", he lost his temper and strangled his lover, the jury was told. |
| He then played computer games for a day and a half while her body remained at his house, before burying her in a field at Erddig, near Wrexham. | He then played computer games for a day and a half while her body remained at his house, before burying her in a field at Erddig, near Wrexham. |
| Detectives had suspected Reszpondek of the murder for most of the investigation into Ms Rodgers' disappearance. | Detectives had suspected Reszpondek of the murder for most of the investigation into Ms Rodgers' disappearance. |
| The investigation relied heavily on undercover surveillance, media appeals and more traditional detective work. | The investigation relied heavily on undercover surveillance, media appeals and more traditional detective work. |
| Lukasz Reszpondek will be deported to Poland after he serves his sentence | |
| Despite the public appeals, a £100,000 reward for information and an appearance on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, officers still did not have enough evidence to charge Reszpondek. | Despite the public appeals, a £100,000 reward for information and an appearance on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, officers still did not have enough evidence to charge Reszpondek. |
| By August 2008, they strongly suspected he had buried her body in a field near his home. | By August 2008, they strongly suspected he had buried her body in a field near his home. |
| Police initially set up five secret cameras in the countryside as part of the surveillance operation, which recorded his car being driven slowly in the lanes near the burial spot on a number of occasions. | Police initially set up five secret cameras in the countryside as part of the surveillance operation, which recorded his car being driven slowly in the lanes near the burial spot on a number of occasions. |
| In January 2009, a further four cameras were installed in the area with the hope that he would lead them to the body. | In January 2009, a further four cameras were installed in the area with the hope that he would lead them to the body. |
| It later emerged he had placed the area under his "favourites" on his car satellite navigation system and named it "Tt", short for Tati. | It later emerged he had placed the area under his "favourites" on his car satellite navigation system and named it "Tt", short for Tati. |
| Hiding in bushes | |
| His trial was told that when police began digging in the surrounding fields looking for her body, he "made the error of taking the bait". | His trial was told that when police began digging in the surrounding fields looking for her body, he "made the error of taking the bait". |
| He watched them from a distance, hiding in bushes, but was unaware officers were also watching him. | He watched them from a distance, hiding in bushes, but was unaware officers were also watching him. |
| By late March 2009, the police digging was getting close to the actual field which contained the body. | By late March 2009, the police digging was getting close to the actual field which contained the body. |
| Reszpondek tried to move her body but it proved more difficult than anticipated and he went to the police in March 2009 to tell them where it was. | Reszpondek tried to move her body but it proved more difficult than anticipated and he went to the police in March 2009 to tell them where it was. |
| He claimed Ms Rodgers had died of natural causes at his home, and he buried her in a panic. | He claimed Ms Rodgers had died of natural causes at his home, and he buried her in a panic. |
| However, it took the jury of six men and five women seven hours and 17 minutes to convict him of murder at the end of a three-week trial. | However, it took the jury of six men and five women seven hours and 17 minutes to convict him of murder at the end of a three-week trial. |
| Supt Purdie said the ambassador's visit was a "fantastic accolade for the force". | |
| She said the ambassador and other delegates had asked to "see the team and to see where Ermatati Rodgers lived and where we found her body". | |
| Temporary Det Supt Wayne Jones, who led the investigation, said: "It's a testament to all those involved." | |
| He said there were times when they came up "against a brick wall", but his officers had "showed a great deal of motivation to keep going". |