A man accused of killing two acquaintances in Cornwall has told a jury he cannot remember making the decision to dismember one of the victims because he was heavily intoxicated. The evidence was given at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday as the long-running trial entered a further day of witness testimony.
Defendant accepts concealment but denies killing
The 40-year-old defendant has admitted preventing the lawful burial of the two men but denies charges of murder. He told jurors he had been drinking “a lot of tequila” and described the deaths as a “series of unfortunate circumstances”.
Prosecutors say the two men died at different times last year on land where the defendant lived in a cabin in Cornwall. The court was told the men were Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, and that the alleged offences occurred between spring and early summer of the previous year.
The defendant told the jury he used a hatchet on Mr Coleman but denied dismembering Mr Aquilino, saying he disposed of Mr Aquilino’s body in a stream in the woods. He accepted he later used the men’s money to buy beer and drugs, but maintained he had not killed them and that they had been friends.
“They were friends, I got on well with them.”
Circumstances described in court
In evidence, the defendant said he found Mr Aquilino hanging while under the influence of ketamine. He said Mr Coleman subsequently checked for a pulse and concluded the man was dead. The defendant said panic set in because he was in possession of large quantities of Class A drugs.
He told jurors Mr Coleman calmed him and persuaded him to remove and conceal the body and to continue using the deceased man’s bank card. The defendant characterised his actions as motivated by homelessness, addiction and a lack of money, saying he was not proud of what happened.
- Charges: Murder of two men; prevention of lawful burial (admitted).
- Defendant’s account: Claims intoxication and memory loss, admits using victims’ funds.
- Court: Trial ongoing at Winchester Crown Court.
Key dates and individuals
| Individual | Age | Alleged period of death |
|---|---|---|
| Claudio Aquilino | 57 | Between 17 April and 7 July (previous year) |
| Daniel Coleman | 43 | Between 2 June and 7 July (previous year) |
The prosecution has challenged the defendant’s account. During cross-examination, counsel described the narrative put to the jury as a “pack of lies” and said the defendant’s testimony was a last-ditch attempt to mislead jurors. The trial is continuing and further evidence is expected to be heard in the coming days.
As the case proceeds, the court will consider whether the accounts given amount to lawful explanations for the deaths or whether criminal liability for murder can be established. The defendant has already pleaded guilty to concealing the manner of burial of both men.
Reporting from the courtroom continues. No verdict has been returned.
