Killer's sick three words after brutally beating man and setting house on fire

On November 29, 2023, Anthony Ibbitson was brutally beaten at his home in Hull, with evil attacker Mark Vaskouski setting his flat on fire before fleeing, spitting out a three-word jeer as he left Anthony to die.

Vaskouski, 28, subjected Anthony, remembered as "pure and kind" by loved ones, to a vicious attack, leaving him with severe injuries to his face, neck, and head. The criminal had broken into Anthony's flat on Terry Street, Hull, demanding money and drugs and threatening to kill him.

Tragically, although Anthony was pulled from the flat, he passed away two days later (December 1) at Pinderfields Hospital's regional burns unit, where he was transferred after being rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary. He was 54 years old.

As explored in tonight's episode of episode five of Channel 5's Murder Suspect No. 1, the killer would later claim that he had been acting in self-defence during a confrontation in Anthony's flat, denying that he'd intended to cause serious harm or that he'd throttled his "vulnerable" victim.

However, the evidence heard in court told a very different story, where the "evil coward" finally faced justice before Anthony's traumatised family.

Sickeningly, as Anthony lay unconscious, Vaskouski shouted out, "Enjoy your fire", as he ran from the scene - showing no mercy as his helpless victim was subjected to smoke inhalation and severe burns.

Vaskouski claimed that the flat hadn't been on fire when he left and that Anthony had still been conscious. He also claimed that the injuries Anthony may have sustained his injuries when they "fell together".

In the aftermath of the attack, Vaskouski attempted to conceal his horrific crimes by disposing of his blood-soaked clothing. He also tried to destroy a local CCTV camera. Despite maintaining his innocence, Vaskouski was ultimately found guilty in September 2024 and sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years.

During sentencing, Judge John Thackray KC remarked that Vaskouski had been "the aggressor from first to last", telling him: "You left the scene knowing a fire had started and did nothing to summon help."

Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector Amy Keane-Christie said: "Vaskouski subjected Tony, a vulnerable member of our community, to a needless, brutal and sustained attack, leaving him helpless and alone in his home whilst the fire spread.

"Vaskouski denied his involvement throughout the course of the investigation and only started to admit to being present at Tony’s home just before trial. By maintaining his innocence and entering a not guilty plea, Vaskouski subjected Tony's family to unforgivable angst and further trauma."

A statement shared by Anthony's family described him as an individual who'd been "loved by so many people", sharing: "He was everything to us, he was a pure and kind person, he would do anything for anybody and ask for nothing in return. This shouldn’t have been allowed to happen. Someone has taken him from us, and we are all truly heartbroken and devastated."

Addressing Vaskouski, Anthony's brother Mark referred to him as "an evil coward", asserting: "Because you failed to admit your guilt, we had to listen to your web of lies. We also had to listen to Tony being beaten to death in his own flat."

According to the synopsis for tonight's episode of Murder Suspect No.1: “In Hull, a vulnerable man is violently attacked in his home and left for dead after his assailant sets fire to his flat. The 54-year-old is pulled from the inferno by firefighters but is in a critical condition and shows obvious signs of assault.

“Detectives soon identify images of a suspect arriving and leaving the crime scene at about the right time - then discover audio of a man, believed to be the attacker, taunting the victim."

Murder Suspect No.1 will air this evening (Monday, February 24, 2025) at 9pm on Channel 5

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