Readers will remember the tragic and horrific case of a dismembered body being found on Southsea beach last summer.
Parts of the body of 30 year old David Guy, a former Isle of Wight resident were found by a group of students in July 2012.
Southsea resident, David Hilder, was cleared at Winchester Crown Court of the murder of Mr Guy, but convicted of manslaughter with diminished responsibility. He was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison.
Although David Guy was living in Southsea when he died, he’d grown up on the Isle of Wight in Wroxall and was well known in the community.
Tragically, several parts of David’s body, including his head, have still not been found.
Father: “I will have to carry this pain in my soul”
The BBC report that following the verdict, a statement from Mr Guy’s father was read to the court in which he said:
“In time I will come to terms with my loss, but it is the cutting up of my son’s body I cannot accept and never will.
“Somehow I will have to carry this pain in my soul for the rest of my life.”
A “tragedy on the lives of everyone affected”
Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Nimbus, Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson, from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) said:
“The death of David Guy inflicted tragedy on the lives of everyone affected.
“This case continues to have a substantial impact on David Guy’s family who remain resolute in trying to come to terms with what happened. We’re grateful for their courage and co-operation throughout the investigation and trial.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the public and the media for their considerable and comprehensive responses to our appeals for information.
“Information from the residents of Portsmouth played an important part in establishing the movements and behaviour of David Hilder.
“The meticulous and relentless work of the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) gathered a wide range of evidence for the prosecution.
“We were particularly persistent in obtaining as much DNA evidence as possible, including the analysis of cat hairs found at relevant scenes, which assisted in linking the offender to this crime.
“It’s important to recognise and thank our partner agencies for their specialist support during the case, including Sussex Police’s Specialist Search Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).”
Our thoughts are with David Guy’s friends and family at what must have been a very difficult time.
