A HUSBAND appeared in court today on his 38th birthday charged with murdering his estranged wife at a block of flats in Ipswich.

Colin Adwent

A HUSBAND appeared in court today on his 38th birthday charged with murdering his estranged wife at a block of flats in Ipswich.

As Mariusz Lipinski faced the town's South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court accused of killing Malgorzata Lipinska, members of Suffolk's Polish community spoke of their shock.

Although Mrs Lipinska's body is still to be formally identified, police investigating the death have said they believe it to be her. It is thought she was a mother-of-two.

The 38-year-old was discovered just after midday on Friday with multiple wounds to her head and body in a stairwell of the flats in Duke Street where she lived.

When paramedics arrived after being called by police Mrs Lipinska was unconscious and not breathing. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mrs Lipinska had been married to Lipinski for 15 years, although they were estranged at the time of her death.

During today's court hearing Lipinski's solicitor Dino Baricella said he would not be making an application for bail on behalf of his client.

Before remanding Lipinski in custody magistrates told him through an interpreter that his case would be sent to Ipswich Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on August 6.

Police have said Lipinski - who previously lived nearby in Siloam Place between Duke Street and Fore Hamlet - was of no fixed address when he was arrested on Friday around 5.30pm in the area of Stoke Bridge.

It is believed he has been in England for around three years after migrating from Poland and, at one point, worked in the Elmsett area.

He was charged with his estranged wife's murder yesterday evening.

A devastated friend of Mrs Lipinska, who was known as Gosia, has spoken of his shock at the tragedy.

The pal, a former work colleague who asked to remain anonymous, described Mrs Lipinska as a kind person.

The pair met at the Philips Avant factory in Glemsford, near Sudbury.

He said: “Nobody could say anything bad about her. We worked together and for a while she was renting a room in my house.

“We have been good friends for some time. She was a very kind person. Everybody is shocked at the factory.”

The friend said he believed Mrs Lipinska had two children, a daughter living in Poland and an 18-year-old son loving in Ipswich.

It is understood she had lived in the Duke Street flats for no more than six months.

Meanwhile a leading figure in Ipswich's Polish community expressed sadness on his compatriots' behalf and spoke of how other communities have rallied round them.

Andrew Soltysik, treasurer of the Ipswich Polish Club said: “It is very tragic. The feeling in the town is absolute shock and disbelief.

“Everybody's just reeling from this at the moment. Both people are known and respected and were a nice couple.

“It has shaken the community. We have had lots of calls from different communities offering their sympathy and support.

“Our thoughts obviously go out to the family of the bereaved. It is such an awful thing to happen.”

- If you wish to pay a tribute to Mrs Lipinska telephone the newsdesk on 01473 324790