Fan of TV serial killer Dexter 'dismembered and burnt bodies of two men in woods'

A double murder trial has heard how police found more than 1,900 burnt bone fragments and a shallow grave containing a torso, legs and feet in remote woods in Cornwall.

James Desborough, 40, is accused of the murder of Daniel Coleman, 43, and Claudio Aquilino, 57, last summer.

Opening the trial, lead prosecutor Ahmed Hossain KC told the jury at Winchester Crown Court that "dismembered" body parts of both victims were found by police in Paramoor Woods, near Sticker, Cornwall, during searches near Desborough's cabin.

Mr Hossain said: "In August, they [police] were searching in a stream that ran close to Mr Desborough's cabin. What they found were over 1,900 burnt bone fragments."

"The stream was divided into segments. The roots of plants had caught various fragments. All of those fragments were sieved, itemized and DNA analysis confirmed they had found what was left of Claudio Aquilino's body."

He said the second victim, Daniel Coleman, was found dismembered in a shallow grave.

The jury were shown a map of the woods.

"You can see torso, legs and feet", Mr Hossain said.

Mr Hossain said Desborough told a forensic biologist in the woods he "particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes" in the TV programme Dexter, about a police ballistics expert who lives a double life committing murders and disposing of the bodies around Miami.

The prosecutor added: "That is a series which involves scenes of dismemberment and disposal of bodies.

"There are many, many people who are fans of the television programme Dexter but, on the behalf of the prosecution, when you consider that comment by Mr Desborough together with the fact that two dismembered bodies were found on his land, that comment takes on a particular significance."

Mr Hossain also told jurors that Desborough went on to steal their money.

Mr Hossain said: "In 2025, James Desborough murdered Daniel Coleman and Claudio Aquilino.

"Parts of their dismembered bodies were found by police search teams and scientists when searching an area of woodland which was where James Desborough lived."

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He added: "Both of these men had lived with Mr Desborough...and these two men were last seen alive in the company of James Desborough.

"After each of them disappeared, their bank accounts were accessed and their money was spent by James Desborough.

"He killed them, he dismembered their bodies, he attempted to burn and bury their remains to conceal what he had done, and then used their money whilst at the same time lying to those around him about where they had gone."

Mr Hossain said Mr Coleman had lived with his wife, Hannah Cresswell, at Sandy Lodge shelter in Newquay until March 2025 when they split.

He added that Desborough had become involved in a relationship with Ms Cresswell which had led to arguments between the pair.

Mr Coleman was last seen alive on June 3 when he had been drinking at a number of pubs with the defendant in Truro and Falmouth, the prosecution said.

Desborough, of Lower Sticker, Cornwall, denies the charges. The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Fan of TV serial killer Dexter 'dismembered and burnt bodies of two men in woods'