Brixton murder: ‘Violent’ pair jailed for killing homeless man in ‘brutal’ attack

Two “violent individuals” who murdered a homeless man in Lambeth have been jailed.

Arturas Ptickinas and Ernestas Aleksandrovas left Mauricio ‘Maurice’ Nascimento with a broken nose, broken ribs, fractured skull and neck after a “brutal attack” on July 12 2021.

The 44-year-old’s body was found in Rush Common.

Ptickinas, 29, of Norwood High Street, was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment for murder and three months’ imprisonment for burglary. The sentences are to run concurrently

Aleksandrovas, 30, also of Norwood High Street, was sentenced to 19 years and six months’ imprisonment for murder and 12 months’ imprisonment for perverting the course of justice. The sentences are to run concurrently.

They were both sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday.

Det Ch Insp Wayne Jolley, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Maurice suffered a needless, brutal death and I am very happy that these two violent individuals will now spend a considerable number of years away from law-abiding people.

“I hope that the substantial sentences handed down bring a measure of comfort to Maurice’s family and loved ones.”

The Met Police could not find any obvious leads in their investigation but were able to make progress with DNA examination

Forensic tests carried out on a belt found discarded at the scene, and Maurice’s unbuttoned shirt, revealed full DNA matches to Ptickinas.

Ptickinas’ DNA was also matched to Maurice’s wrists, indicating he had been involved in dragging his body into bushes.

Forensic tests also showed the presence of DNA on other parts of Maurice’s body, including his face and on his neck, where he had been hit by his attackers.

Tests on the fingers and palm of Maurice’s right hand were found to match Aleksnadrovas’s DNA.

A Met statement added: “The DNA matches, coupled with analysis of CCTV footage, which tracked the pair leaving their home address and heading towards the Rush Common area when the murder is believed to have been carried out, helped build the case against both men.”

Aleksandrovas has also been linked to the crime scene as his mobile phone was used on the night of the murder and it connected to a telephone mast next to Rush Common.