James Desborough, 40, has been given a whole-life prison order after being convicted of three murders. Mr Justice Saini, sentencing Desborough at Winchester Crown Court, described the circumstances of the case as unique and stated that Desborough was a highly dangerous individual.
Desborough murdered Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, before dismembering their bodies and concealing them in woodland in south Cornwall. The judge noted that Desborough killed his two friends because he considered them vulnerable, homeless, and physically slight, believing they would not be missed due to their chaotic personal lives.
While held in Exeter prison awaiting trial, Desborough murdered his 65-year-old cellmate, Steven Kempster, reportedly due to snoring. Police conducted a 175-day search of the woods, involving over 700 officers and scientists, during which 1,900 burned bone fragments of Mr Aquilino and remains of Mr Coleman were discovered.