A farmer has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an odd-job man, whose dismembered body was concealed in a concrete-filled barrel on the farmer’s land near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Christopher Wright, 73, was convicted last month at Sheffield Crown Court of killing Richard Dyson, 55, in 2019 after suspecting him of theft.

Dyson, who lived in his car on Wright’s property, had assisted Wright with tasks such as cutting hedges, repairing tractors, and driving him to appointments. However, their relationship deteriorated when Wright, an antique firearms collector and former butcher, accused Dyson of stealing a machine gun and other possessions. Wright shot Dyson in the arm and chest before dismembering his body over several days. He purchased cement from a builder’s merchant, placed the body parts inside a blue barrel, and sealed it with concrete.

The body was later discovered by police during a search of Wright’s property after Dyson’s daughter reported him missing and a missing-persons inquiry evolved into a murder investigation. Officers found the concrete-filled barrel stored on a trailer, which Wright had arranged to be kept on land belonging to a neighboring farmer who was unaware of its contents.

Wright’s longtime friend Karl Schwalbe, 72, was found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice for assisting in concealing the crime. Schwalbe received a three-year prison sentence. Both men were recorded on police cameras discussing evidence gathered during the investigation. Wright was also filmed praying for forgiveness and hoping his collection of illegal weapons would remain undiscovered.

Presiding over the case, Mr Justice Cotter imposed a minimum term of 35 years on Wright, concluding that he would likely spend the remainder of his life in prison. In sentencing, the judge referenced Wright’s background as a butcher, noting his skill set had enabled him to carry out the grim act “something few ordinary people would have the stomach for.”

In a victim impact statement read aloud during sentencing, Dyson’s daughter, Bethany Dainty, described the emotional toll of her father’s disappearance and the prolonged uncertainty that prevented her from grieving. "I couldn’t grieve because I did not know the truth," she said.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles acknowledged the difficulty faced by Dyson’s family throughout the investigation and trial, praising their perseverance. He criticized Wright and Schwalbe for refusing to take responsibility, forcing the family to endure extensive legal proceedings and hear distressing evidence.

During the trial, Christopher Dunn, acting for Schwalbe, characterized his client’s failure to disclose information to the police as “an error of biblical proportions.”