A self-confessed "weapons fanatic" murdered his lodger by shooting him dead before dismembering the body and concealing the remains in a concrete-filled barrel for six years, a jury has heard.
The Disappearance of Richard Dyson
Richard Dyson, 55, disappeared in November 2019 after failing to attend a planned meeting with his daughter, Bethany. A missing persons investigation was launched, but the case remained unsolved until July 14 last year, when human remains were discovered inside a barrel on farmland near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The remains were later identified as Mr Dyson.
Christopher Wright, 73, denies murdering Mr Dyson and a series of related offences.
Prosecution Case
Opening the prosecution case on Monday, Peter Moulson KC told jurors at Sheffield Crown Court that Mr Dyson was killed on the evening of November 17, 2019. Addressing a possible motive, Mr Moulson said evidence may show Mr Dyson had stolen firearms belonging to Wright and sold them.
He told the jury: "It may be that Wright would have been very angry about such thefts, and it may be that Wright's motive for the murder of Mr Dyson arose out of those thefts."
The court heard Mr Dyson had spent several years living and sleeping in one of three vehicles parked at Wright's home in Barnsley.
Mr Moulson said: "You might ultimately conclude that Mr Dyson bit the hand that fed or helped him, and thereafter was made to pay the ultimate price with his life."
Weapons Fanatic
He described Wright as "something of a weapons fanatic and collector." Searches of Wright's home uncovered numerous firearms, including antique weapons, around 10,000 rounds of ammunition, equipment capable of producing more ammunition, as well as bows, arrows and knives.
Mr Moulson said any theft of weapons would have been particularly upsetting to Wright.
The Barrel Discovery
Mr Dyson's "neatly severed" remains were found inside a barrel filled with concrete, which had been stored on a trailer on farmland close to Wright's property until its discovery in July 2025. A forensic examination of the skeleton indicated Mr Dyson had been shot, possibly more than once, jurors were told.
Prosecutors allege Wright then sought help from his co-accused and long-time friend, Karl Schwalbe, who lived nearby. Phone records are said to show a brief conversation between the two men on the night of the alleged murder, while CCTV footage allegedly captures Schwalbe's vehicle arriving at Wright's property shortly afterwards.
Jurors heard Schwalbe remained there for around an hour.
Mr Moulson said: "Mr Schwalbe came quickly to the aid of his very long-term friend late that night in November 2019 and stayed for an hour."
Two days later, Wright's bank card was used to buy supplies from Allendales Building Supplies. The prosecutor reminded jurors that concrete was later found inside the barrel containing Mr Dyson's remains.
The following day, Wright allegedly asked a local farmer for permission to store a trailer on nearby land. That trailer contained the barrel in which Mr Dyson's remains were discovered six years later.
Charges and Trial
Wright is charged with murder, preventing a lawful burial and a number of firearms offences, including possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition without the required certificates. Schwalbe, of Dike Hill, Harley, Rotherham, and Wright both deny a charge of perverting the course of justice. The defendants deny all charges. The trial, expected to last a further seven weeks, continues.
