A heartbroken mum has described her horror after her son left the house for just 15 minutes – and was killed.
Dylan Bragger, 15, was stabbed over 23 times in a horrific attack on June 29, 2023 in Skelmersdale after Felipe Figueiredo accused him of stealing his wife’s motorbike. The killer has been sentenced to life for Dylan’s death.
Yesterday Preston Crown Court heard of the “grotesque level of violence” used against the teenager, reports the Manchester Evening News. Giving a devastating testimony, Dylan’s mother Sarah Bragger 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.”
Figueiredo had been told two young men were riding around on his wife’s motorbike after it was stolen the day before. After heading out to investigate, he came across Dylan and his 20-year-old cousin near a footbridge and launched a horrifying attack, stabbing the teenager repeatedly.
Dylan’s cousin ran onto the dual carriageway while Figueiredo followed, with the knife behind his back.
Ms Bragger said: “Hearing about the way he suffered in court – I had to leave court part way through to be sick. Dylan’s brothers are having trauma therapy. They don’t sleep. His youngest brother doesn’t know where Dylan 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.”
Dylan had been a fantastic footballer who “worked every hour he wasn’t in school,” she said, and had planned to be a car mechanic.
She said: “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 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, I hope we can build a new life in your memory…
“I really hope he spends a long time behind bars and is tortured by what he has done. I hope he doesn’t get to see his own daughter as this may be the better sentence for what he has done to us.”
The judge said “the whole family is broken and nothing can serve justice”, adding: “I would like to pay a special tribute to the dignified way Dylan’s family have conducted themselves throughout the trial.”
Emergency services raced to the scene, but were unable to save Dylan, who had suffered severe injuries to his head, neck, arms and abdomen.
The murder weapon has never been found but a sheath, matching the knife, was recovered yards from Dylan’s body. Figueiredo has been remanded in custody since June.
Sentencing, Judge Mr Justice Bryan told Figueiredo: “While you were walking towards Digmoor Road you saw your wife’s bike and you saw two lads – Dylan 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.
“It is beyond belief that you would have wrestled a knife from Dylan without suffering a single injury. It was Dylan who had injuries.”
