A prisoner convicted alongside two others in the fatal stabbing of a child killer behind bars has a history of murdering a young woman and attacking a police officer. David Taylor, 64, now faces a possible whole life order after being found guilty of two murders and one attempted murder. Full details of his crimes can now be reported following the lifting of reporting restrictions after his latest case concluded.
Murder of Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin
Taylor admitted to murdering 24-year-old Alisha Apostoloff-Boyarin, from Ashton. She was reported missing by her grandmother on February 2, 2022, having last been seen eight days earlier in a gold Volkswagen Passat driving through Derbyshire. Her body has never been found. Despite public appeals from her family, they concluded by March 2022 that she had died. Taylor was charged with her murder in March 2024.
Attack on Detective Constable
While in prison, Taylor claimed to have information about Alisha's whereabouts. During a police interview in July 2024, he produced an improvised weapon and stabbed Detective Constable Darren Bratby of Greater Manchester Police in the chest. DC Bratby spent four days in hospital but recovered. Taylor later told the prison governor the attack was planned and he intended to kill the officer, though he targeted the wrong person.
Prison Murder of Kyle Bevan
After being transferred to HMP Wakefield, Taylor joined fellow murderers Mark 'The Iceman' Fellows and Lee Newell to target child killer Kyle Bevan, 33. CCTV captured the trio entering Bevan's cell one by one. About five minutes later, they emerged, and Bevan was found dead the next morning, posed to look asleep. All three were convicted of murder at Leeds Crown Court on June 18.
Court Evidence and Sentencing
In his attempted murder trial, Taylor described himself as an 'old fashioned villain' with convictions since 1977. He claimed he snapped during the interview due to anger over his life circumstances. He admitted knowing Alisha through a friend and last seeing her in 2021 or 2022. Taylor is due to be sentenced for all three offenses on June 19.
