Jury retires in woodland murders trial

A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of a man charged with killing two men whose dismembered remains were found in woodland.

James Desborough, of Old Oak Woods, Lower Sticker, Cornwall, has been on trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of murdering Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, last year.

The 40-year-old has previously pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of their bodies, but has denied murdering the pair.

Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini told the jury to put all emotion out of their mind and urged them to "apply common sense".

The judge added: "You've really got to focus on whether the prosecution has made you sure that Mr Desborough killed Claudio [Aquilino] or Daniel Coleman."

He said neither the prosecution or defence had suggested manslaughter, but this was an option open to the jury.

Sean Brunton KC, defending, had earlier told the jury that although Desborough had been convicted of murdering a cellmate in Exeter Prison, this had happened a year after the deaths of Aquilino and Coleman.

He said "it would be guesswork" to place significance on what happened in Exeter Prison and they did not know the circumstances surrounding it.

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