Birleywood Child Killer Felipe Figuieredo inflicted around 23 stab wounds on 15-year-old Dylan Bragger. He received a life sentence for murdering a kid he believed had stolen his wife’s motorbike.
Felipe Figuieredo fatally stabbed 15-year-old Dylan Bragger over 23 times on Digmoor Road, Skelmersdale, on the night of June 29 of the previous year.
Felipe Figuieredo of Birleywood, Skelmersdale, refuted the charge of murder; but, a jury convicted him after only three hours of deliberation. The 28-year-old is required to serve a minimum of 23 years in incarceration.
Preston Crown Court was informed today (January 26) of the “grotesque level of violence” employed by Felipe Figuieredo upon learning that two young men were riding his wife’s motorbike, which had been stolen the previous day. He departed from his residence on the Birleywood estate to conduct an investigation, as reported by Lancs Live.
Upon encountering Dylan Bragger and his 20-year-old cousin near a footbridge, he initiated a brutal assault, stabbing Dylan Bragger 23 times. As his cousin dashed into the dual road, Felipe Figuieredo pursued, concealing a knife behind his back.
Dylan Bragger’s heartbroken mother Sarah Bragger described her son as a brilliant footballer who ‘worked every hour he wasn’t in school’. Dylan Bragger wanted to be a car mechanic and had passed his most recent qualification “with flying colours”.
She said: “Imagine your son leaving your house 15 minutes before and making arrangements to pick him up. A grown man taking the life of your son for no reason other than he thought he was a thief.
“Hearing about the way he suffered in court – I had to leave court part way through to be sick. Dylan Bragger’s brothers are having trauma therapy. They don’t sleep. His youngest brother doesn’t know where Dylan Bragger has gone and why he isn’t coming back. His brothers don’t like playing out.
“We have had months off work and there is a financial impact. No-one should lose a family member to murder. Hearing his injuries sounds like he was butchered like an animal. Why take it so far? Why didn’t he just stop or give him a beating. Over a motorbike – a piece of metal.
“Being a family that works hard to buy nice things I completely understand the frustration as something you’ve worked for is taken. Our son was a big giant with a heart of gold.”
Ms Bragger added: “The last six months have been horrific – the worst six months of our life. Filipe spoke these words on the stand – part of me died. You still have a daughter. You have a life sentence to serve but believe me, I would serve a life sentence if I could have my boy back.
“We can’t eat or sleep or have a normal conversation. Dylan Bragger was a boy who would light up a room, he’d make us laugh till we couldn’t breathe. He was about to embark on his dream career. Dylan Bragger, I hope we can build a new life in your memory.”
Emergency services were called to the scene but Dylan Bragger had suffered severe injuries to his head, neck, arms and abdomen. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The murder weapon has never been found but a sheath, matching the knife, was recovered yards from Dylan Bragger’s body.
Felipe Figuieredo has been remanded in custody since June. Sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Bryan described Dylan Bragger’s injuries as ‘horrific’ and told Felipe Figuieredo he only had one person to blame for the position he has found himself in.
He said: “While you were walking towards Digmoor Road you saw your wife’s bike and you saw two lads – Dylan Bragger and Keagan Lyon. I reject as a cock and bull story that they ran towards you, a well built man, and confronted you. That you took the knife from them and thought you were punching Dylan Bragger.
“It is beyond belief that you would have wrestled a knife from Dylan without suffering a single injury. It was Dylan Bragger who had injuries.”
There was a sigh from the public gallery as Felipe Figuieredo was led away to begin his sentence.
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