James Desborough, 40, was convicted of murdering two men, dismembering their bodies, and later killing his prison cellmate while awaiting trial. The killings of Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, occurred in Cornwall last year, with their dismembered remains discovered in woodland near Desborough’s cabin in Sticker, close to St Austell. Desborough is already serving a life sentence after strangling Steven Kempster, 65, his cellmate at HMP Exeter.
During the trial at Winchester Crown Court, jurors heard that Aquilino and Coleman had lived with Desborough at a homeless hostel in Newquay and were last seen together with him. Following their deaths, Desborough accessed their bank accounts and used their money to purchase drugs and alcohol. Police uncovered about 1,900 bone fragments from Aquilino burnt in a stream, while parts of Coleman's body, including his torso, legs, and feet, were found in a shallow grave nearby.
Desborough, a former builder and father of one, denied committing the murders, attributing the deaths to a “series of unfortunate circumstances” occurring on his property. He previously admitted to preventing the lawful burial of the bodies, claiming that he had discovered Aquilino hanging from a tree and, a month later, found Coleman dead in a stream. However, evidence presented at trial indicated Desborough had killed Aquilino around April 2025 and Coleman in June of the same year, subsequently dismembering them with an axe.
A notable aspect of the case was Desborough’s admitted fascination with the television series *Dexter*, which centers on a fictional vigilante serial killer who dismembers his victims. Desborough reportedly told a forensic biologist involved in the investigation that he “particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes” in the show. Police also found handwritten notes in his cabin in which he described himself as “ready to execute any predators,” along with messages referencing the victims.
The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for just over three hours. Desborough’s sentencing was scheduled to take place promptly following the verdict. Separately, he had been convicted earlier this year of strangling Kempster in Exeter Prison, reportedly because Kempster’s snoring disturbed him.
Authorities have indicated they are investigating whether Desborough may be connected to other unsolved deaths, including the case of Lee Hockey, 50, whose body was found in Cornish woodland in July 2025. The investigation remains ongoing as police review potential links to additional cases.
The accused’s actions, which involved targeting vulnerable men he met at a homeless shelter and later killing a fellow inmate, have drawn significant attention from law enforcement and legal authorities. The case underscores concerns over violent behavior within prison settings as well as challenges faced by homeless individuals at risk of exploitation.