A 66-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murdering a mother of seven in 1998 after telling police he disposed of her decomposed body months after killing her.
Trevor Dunkley also admitted a charge of preventing the lawful burial of Patricia Lashley, who disappeared near her home in Dudley, West Midlands, in September 1998.
Court hearing details
Appearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday, Dunkley, of Himley Road, Dudley, showed no emotion in the dock as his barrister, Balbir Singh, told a judge that the charges had been brought based on a police interview.
Asked by Judge Michael Chambers KC if the victim’s body had been found, Mr Singh answered: “No, because this is 28 years ago and the body was put into the cellar downstairs.
“It decomposed. When he was moving about nine months to a year later the skeleton was disposed of into the bins.”
Asked if there was a basis of plea, Mr Singh said of the case: “It is down to what the defendant told the police when there was no evidence in reality of what had happened.”
Victim's background and sentencing
Dunkley, appearing in the dock wearing round-rimmed glasses and a grey sweater, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on November 6.
Police have said Ms Lashley, who was known locally as Pat or Jade, lived at an address in Hall Street, Dudley, had links to London, Wales, Newcastle and Scotland, and also used the names Vanessa and Tricia, as well as the surname Bradford.
Several members of the victim’s family were present in court to see Dunkley, who police believe knew Ms Lashley, enter his guilty pleas.
Both charges admitted by Dunkley covered a time period between September 22 and September 28 1998.
Addressing Dunkley at the end of the hearing, Judge Chambers said: “You have had the courage to plead guilty to these matters and will get appropriate credit (for pleading guilty) in due course.
“I am required to set the minimum term that you will have to serve before the Parole Board consider your case.
“As you are aware, the sentence for murder is life imprisonment.
“I am going to order a pre-sentence report. It’s in your interests to co-operate with the preparation of that report.
“In the meantime you must remain in custody.”
