Woman cleared of murdering ex-partner

A woman has been cleared of murdering her former partner after a jury accepted she was diminished by her mental state.

Karol Wikiera, 41, was pronounced dead after emergency crews were called to a ground floor flat in Algitha Road, Skegness, on the morning of 18 August 2025.

Sylwia Bukala, 43, admitted manslaughter by stabbing Wikiera but denied murder, claiming her responsibility was diminished by her psychiatric state.

After a two-week trial at Lincoln Crown Court, a jury cleared Sylwia of the murder charge. Her son, Alberto Bukala, 22, was also found not guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Sylwia did not give evidence during the trial but defence barrister Katherine Goddard KC submitted the psychiatric evidence, which suggested her mental state was diminished at the time of the killing.

Alberto was accused of lying to the police and ambulance service about the circumstances in which Wikiera's body was found.

The prosecution alleged Alberto would have seen his stepfather's body when he returned to the flat from his job as a chef at an Ingoldmells bar during the early hours of 18 August.

But giving evidence during the trial, Alberto insisted Wikiera was not in the living room when he returned home from work at about 02:30 BST.

Alberto told the jury he assumed Wikiera was working a night shift at a dog biscuit factory in Alford and said he went to bed after checking on his mother.

Answering questions from defence barrister Neil Sands, Alberto said he assumed it was just a "normal day" when he woke up the following morning and went to the toilet.

But Alberto explained he was shocked to find Wikiera lent over the side of the sofa.

"It made me feel numb," Alberto said. "I just froze."

Alberto said he called 999 after telling his mother what he had found, the court heard.

When asked to explain why he requested paramedics rather than the police, Alberto replied "because he was not breathing".

Paramedics found the dead body of Wikiera in the living room after they responded to the emergency call made by Alberto, the jury heard.

The court heard there was also blood on the sofa and on a kitchen knife, which had been left on a draining board.

Alberto explained that he regarded Wikiera as his stepfather, but said that he was no longer in a relationship with his mother and that the older man would sleep on the sofa.

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