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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Shaun Cummins murder: Thomas Dunkley guilty of killing ex-boxer | Shaun Cummins murder: Thomas Dunkley guilty of killing ex-boxer |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a former boxer and chopping up his body. | |
| Thomas Dunkley, of no fixed abode, had denied killing Shaun Cummins but admitted preventing the burial of a body and four counts of fraud. | Thomas Dunkley, of no fixed abode, had denied killing Shaun Cummins but admitted preventing the burial of a body and four counts of fraud. |
| Mr Cummins' body was found in 10 pieces inside three freezers at his home in Marriott Road, Leicester in September. | Mr Cummins' body was found in 10 pieces inside three freezers at his home in Marriott Road, Leicester in September. |
| Dunkley was sentenced to life in prison at Leicester Crown Court and ordered to serve a minimum term of 34 years. | Dunkley was sentenced to life in prison at Leicester Crown Court and ordered to serve a minimum term of 34 years. |
| The former WBA inter-continental light middleweight champion had retired from boxing in 1995. | The former WBA inter-continental light middleweight champion had retired from boxing in 1995. |
| 'Grotesque act' | 'Grotesque act' |
| In 2004 he was paralysed in a motorbike accident which left him requiring home care. Dunkley was described as Mr Cummins' "informal carer". | In 2004 he was paralysed in a motorbike accident which left him requiring home care. Dunkley was described as Mr Cummins' "informal carer". |
| During the seven-day trial, he admitted cutting up the ex-boxer's body with a chainsaw and storing it in freezers at Cummins' bungalow. | During the seven-day trial, he admitted cutting up the ex-boxer's body with a chainsaw and storing it in freezers at Cummins' bungalow. |
| Dunkley denied murder and claimed he had panicked after Cummins died of natural causes in his sleep. | Dunkley denied murder and claimed he had panicked after Cummins died of natural causes in his sleep. |
| Judge Mrs Justice Dobbs said of the dismemberment: "It was a grotesque act, violating Cummins' person and his dignity in death and the sensitivities of his family." | Judge Mrs Justice Dobbs said of the dismemberment: "It was a grotesque act, violating Cummins' person and his dignity in death and the sensitivities of his family." |
| The trial heard Dunkley was bullied and assaulted by Cummins, but the judge said provocation had "not been an issue" in the case. | The trial heard Dunkley was bullied and assaulted by Cummins, but the judge said provocation had "not been an issue" in the case. |
| She said the subsequent use of his credit cards by Dunkley after his death was "despicable". | She said the subsequent use of his credit cards by Dunkley after his death was "despicable". |
| The court was told the 29-year-old used the credit cards to buy a chainsaw, gloves, a mask, overalls and goggles, and then "set about the grisly task of dismembering the body". | |
| When he ran out of space, Dunkley went to buy another freezer using one of the credit cards. | |
| Dunkley admitted four charges of fraud relating to using the former boxer's credit cards, as well as cashing cheques from a trust fund. | |
| Supt Matt Hewson, of Leicestershire Police, said Dunkley had become frustrated as he did not appear to be compensated financially for helping Shaun and had increasing personal debt. | Supt Matt Hewson, of Leicestershire Police, said Dunkley had become frustrated as he did not appear to be compensated financially for helping Shaun and had increasing personal debt. |
| "He was not paid for his work and believed he would one day receive some payment or profit from a business venture with Shaun," said Supt Hewson. | "He was not paid for his work and believed he would one day receive some payment or profit from a business venture with Shaun," said Supt Hewson. |