Neill Buchel murder trial: Jury begin deliberations over ‘Leg in the Lake’ killing

A jury has retired to begin deliberations over the murder of Neill Buchel, whose body was chopped up and dumped in a Dagenham lake.

Housemate Scott ‘Gary’ Hunt, 41, stands charged with his murder at Blackfriars Crown Cout, along with Chas Quye, 36, of Stansgate Road, Dagenham, and Elvis Kwiatowski, 36, of Clopton Close, Royston.

Alan Quinn, 28, of Lynette Road, Dagenham, and Colin Bushaway, 61, of Gregory Close, Eltham, both deny conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The South African father-of-two was last seen alive on March 13 2014, when his left thigh was found in White Hart Lakes in The Chase, Dagenham, on April 1.

Police recovered a further nine dismembered body parts in the lake two days later, with the torso wrapped in material – thought to be a curtain – and weighed down with stones.

A post-mortem declared multiple blunt-force injuries to the torso sustained on the night of March 13, likely to have been caused by stamping or kicking, as the cause of death – an examination revealing 25 rib fractures and a haemorrhaged pancreas.

Although denying murder, Quye previously told the court how he chopped up the body with a handsaw and a Stanley blade alongside Kwiatkowski, having got the idea from Guy Ritchie gangster films.

The court have also heard how Hunt and Quye, together with Buchel, frequently recorded themselves carrying out “pranks” inspired by TV stunt show Jackass, that included putting chilli powder on their genitals, burning pubic hair and “inserting items” into the genital area.

Check back at romfordrecorder.co.uk throughout the week for the latest on the trial.