A fan of the television serial killer show Dexter murdered two men before dismembering and burning their bodies in Cornish woodland surrounding the cabin where he lived, a jury has heard.
James Desborough, 40, allegedly killed Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, and hid their bodies in dense undergrowth close to his cabin near St Austell. After killing them, he accessed their bank accounts and tried to cover his tracks by making it appear that one had gone to London and the other was walking a long-distance trail, Winchester crown court was told.
“James Desborough, 40, allegedly killed two men, dismembered and burned their bodies near his Cornish cabin.”
Police took five months to search the woods around Desborough’s cabin, discovering 1,900 burned bone fragments believed to have come from Aquilino’s body, in a stream. Parts of Coleman’s dismembered body, including his torso, legs and feet, were found in a shallow grave nearby. An axe hung from a tree close to the grave.
Ahmed Hossain KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Desborough was present at times when police searched the woods and while chatting to a forensic biologist involved in the operation said he “particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” in the programme Dexter. “That is a series which involves scenes of dismemberment and disposal of bodies,” Hossain said. “There are many, many people who are fans of the television programme Dexter but when you consider that comment by Mr Desborough together with the fact that two dismembered bodies were found on his land, that the comment takes on a particular significance.”
When police searched his cabin, they found a note in Desborough’s handwriting in which he said: “I know I am a killer and ready to execute any predators”, the court heard. They also discovered notes suggesting he was planning to buy a “ghillie suit” – a specialised camouflage garment – and find a way to leave the UK. Notes also mentioned “bodies buried”, “new burner phone” and “safe house”.
Desborough denied murdering the two men between April and July last year but the jury heard he had admitted preventing their lawful burial. Hossain said the alleged killer and his victims got to know each other when they spent time at a residence for homeless people and people with addiction issues in the Cornish resort of Newquay. The trial continues.