Christopher Wright, 73, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years for the murder of his tenant Richard Dyson, whose remains were found in a concrete-filled barrel in a trailer last year. The trailer had been left on a farm and the body remained undiscovered for six years.
Discovery and conviction
Richard Dyson, a pensioner, disappeared on November 17, 2019. His remains were discovered in 2025 in a trailer on a farm. Wright was found guilty of murder and several firearms offences at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday. His accomplice, Karl Schwable, 72, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and jailed for three years.
Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC told the court that Dyson was last seen alive at around 22.54 on the night of his disappearance. Wright made two calls to Schwable that night; the second call was answered at 23.05 and lasted 14 seconds. CCTV showed Schwable's vehicle travelling towards Parkside Cottage at 23.23, where he spent an hour with Wright.
Evidence and weapons
The prosecution argued that Wright shot and killed Dyson that night and immediately sought assistance from his friend. Two days later, Wright's bank card was used to pay for materials from a builder's merchants. A day later, he arranged to leave a trailer at a nearby farm.
South Yorkshire Police released photos showing the trailer and the weapons found at Wright's home, which included guns, an axe, swords, and saws. A diary entry from the farm owner noted: "Chris Wright dropped an old trailer here?"
Wright was also convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, preventing a lawful burial, possession of a prohibited weapon, two counts of possession of a prohibited self-loading gun, possession of a firearm without a certificate, possession of a shotgun without a certificate, and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
