Torso Case: Man Convicted Of Killing Friend

30 July 2013, 16:33 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A man who killed and dismembered his friend before disposing of the body parts on Southsea beach has been jailed for life to serve a minimum of 12 years.

David Hilder, of Richmond Road, Southsea, was cleared of murder by a jury at Winchester Crown Court but convicted of manslaughter.

The trial heard that the 47-year-old cut up the body of David Guy before disposing of the parts using the large basket on his bicycle.

The torso, wrapped in a black bin liner, was discovered by a group of foreign students on Southsea beach in July 2012. The rest of his body has not been recovered.

Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson, of Hampshire police, said:

"The death of David Guy inflicted tragedy on the lives of everyone affected.

"This case continues to have a substantial impact on David Guy's family who remain resolute in trying to come to terms with what happened. We're grateful for their courage and co-operation throughout the investigation and trial.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the public and the media for their considerable and comprehensive responses to our appeals for information.

"Information from the residents of Portsmouth played an important part in establishing the movements and behaviour of David Hilder.

"The meticulous and relentless work of the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) gathered a wide range of evidence for the prosecution.

"We were particularly persistent in obtaining as much DNA evidence as possible, including the analysis of cat hairs found at relevant scenes, which assisted in linking the offender to this crime.''

The investigation, codenamed Operation Nimbus, involved detectives from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) gathering 2,398 documents including 466 statements, 411 officers' reports and 512 other documents.

A total of 280 police personnel worked on the inquiry which also gathered 1,369 exhibits and received 241 messages from the public.