Man killed friend in row over mis-spelt text message

Josef Witkowski was stabbed to death after a row over a mis-spelt text message

A man stabbed his neighbour to death after 'mutter' was mis-spelt as 'nutter' in a text message - because of the predictive dictionary.



Josef Witkowski died after being left with more than 100 injuries following the knife attack.



Neil Brook, 33, had sent his 27-year-old friend the message - and then attacked him when he turned up at his property because of the mis-understanding.



Witkowski went round to Brook's flat in Walkden, Greater Manchester, after they had exchanged a string of abusive text messages.

Brook is now facing a lengthy spell in jail after being found guilty of manslaughter.



In advance of the visit he had fitted knives to the door and near his bathroom in his flat which hit the victim in the leg.



After suffering a knife wound, Mr Witkowski sought sanctuary in the bathroom, but Brook smashed his way through and continued the assault.



The Bolton News said Manchester Crown Court heard the victim had 104 injuries including cuts, stab wounds, bruises and slice marks on his hands, with the fatal blow piercing his heart.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court cleared Brook of murder, but found him guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter.



The jury accepted the defendant's claim that the 'dramatic and extremely violent' attack had been provoked.

He said Mr Witkowski had gone to his flat with a knife, looking for a fight, although it was never conclusively established whether he had a knife or not.

Brook told officers at the flat: ‘I tripped him up as he came through the door and I thought: “Right you’re getting it.”

Violence: Neil Brook's flat in Wilbraham Road in Walkden, Salford where he stabbed his friend and neighbour in a 'dramatic and extremely violent'

‘He had a big kitchen knife and I pulled my knife off the door and stabbed him. I just lost it and went crazy. I thought we were mates.



'All over a misunderstanding over a text. I said mutter not nutter.’



Sentencing will be at a future date, and Judge Michael Henshell said: 'Anybody looking at the facts of this case would be struck by the level of violence, whatever the level of provocation is assessed to be.

'Obviously the sentence will be a long one.'

