James Desborough, 40, has been convicted of three murders carried out over five months last year, including the strangling of his prison cell mate who snored.
Murder of homeless men
Desborough was found guilty on July 28 of murdering Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, two homeless men whose bodies were then dismembered and hidden in woodland in Cornwall. He knew the victims from a homeless shelter. After they disappeared, Desborough used their money on drugs and alcohol, claiming they had left Cornwall.
Parts of Mr Coleman's body, including his torso, legs and feet, were found in a shallow grave near Sticker Woods. His genitals have never been found and deliberate removal could not be excluded. From Mr Aquilino's body, 1,900 burned bone fragments were discovered in a stream. Desborough lived in a wooden cabin in the woods.
Prosecutors said Desborough was jealous of Mr Coleman because he had developed a sexual interest in his friend's ex-wife. Desborough told a forensic biologist he “particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” in the television series Dexter. Among notes found in his cabin was one that said: “I know I am a killer and ready to execute any predators” and another listing Mr Coleman's name.
Prison cell murder
While on remand for the two murders, Desborough strangled Steven Kempster, 65, as he slept in the cell they shared at HMP Exeter. The murder occurred in June but could not be reported until now. Desborough had told others on the wing he was becoming annoyed by Kempster's snoring.
Ahmed Hossain KC, prosecuting, said: “James Desborough was displeased at having to share a cell with Steven Kempster and told others on the wing about this. He cited Steven Kempster snoring and returning his cutlery unwashed as sources of irritation. The night before the killing, James Desborough said that if Steven Kempster was to irritate him by snoring, he would kill him.”
Desborough alerted prison officers at 5.25am on September 15, who found Mr Kempster on the floor. Home Office pathologist Dr Deborah Cook concluded Kempster died from compression of the neck. Desborough claimed Kempster must have fallen out of bed, but prosecutors said his DNA on Kempster's clothing suggested he moved him to the floor after a cell check at 5am.
Sentencing
Desborough denied murder, claiming Mr Kempster had sexually assaulted him. He was found guilty and in June was jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years. Passing sentence, Judge James Patrick said: “He had the misfortune to be allocated a cell with you. You were the reverse. You were younger, more confident and stronger. Your cell mate irritated you so much that you asked to be moved. It is likely that would have happened if you had been more patient. As it is, you said that you would kill him if he snored again. Seemingly, he did, and so you did. Simply put, you squeezed the life out of him, and left him for dead.”
Sean Brunton KC, defending, said Desborough had many positive attributes but now had “serious problems”. Desborough had previously pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of the two homeless men's bodies.
