Convicted killer hacked man to death and dumped body parts in Huddersfield canal

A CONVICTED killer hacked a sex offender to death and dumped his dismembered body in a canal months after being released from prison for murder.
Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyPolice search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

A judge today ruled that David Mitchell must serve a whole life term in prison for the gruesome murder of Robert Hind.

Mitchell, 47, brutally assaulted Hind before strangling him to death after inviting him to his home in Huddersfield on December 11 2013.

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He then went out and bought a hacksaw and a roll of bin bags before dismembering his body in the shower at his home on Manchester Road.

Robert HindRobert Hind
Robert Hind

Mitchell then dumped Hind’s head, torso and limbs in an around a canal near to his home.

After being arrested for the attack Mitchell told police he had reacted in temper when Hind told him he was HIV positive after they had had sex.

The court heard Hind, 46, was openly gay and had begun a homosexual relationship with Mitchell when they met at a hostel in Dewsbury.

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They had both been staying there while on licence from prison.

Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyPolice search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Hind was on licence after serving a period in prison for sex offences against boys under 16

Mitchell committed the killing just 115 days after being released from prison on licence for murdering his girlfriend, Kathleen McKenzie, in 1990.

He served 23 years of a life sentence for the killing in which he tied his partner’s arms and legs together before drowning her in a bath.

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He then put her body in an alcove in the cellar of his home and tried to conceal it using plywood.

Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry AgencyPolice search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency
Police search for the body of convicted paedophile Robert Hind. Picture: Ross Parry Agency

Mr Justice Globe ordered that the double killer serve a whole life sentence.

He said: “In my judgement the facts leave me in no doubt that the seriousness of the defendant’s offending is exceptionally high and the requirements of just punishment and retribution make a whole life order the just penalty.”

Referring to the killing of Hind and the impact the death has had on his family, the judge said: “The facts of the offence have been gruesome and they have produced great misery, long standing nightmares and heartache.”

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Graham Reed, prosecuting, said Mitchell was released from prison on August 19 2013 and was moved to the hostel on Albion Street where he met Hind.

Robert Hind (right) with a man, seen at Huddersfield bus stationRobert Hind (right) with a man, seen at Huddersfield bus station
Robert Hind (right) with a man, seen at Huddersfield bus station

Mr Reed said Hind was openly gay and open about the fact that he was HIV positive.

The attack happened after Mitchell had moved out of the hostel to a property in Huddersfield.

Police found CCTV footage from the day of the attack showing the two men travelling back to the area where Mitchell lived and buying alcohol from a supermarket.

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After killing Hind, Mitchell went to a Wilkinson’s store and bought a hacksaw and a roll of bin bags before dismembering the body, cutting off the head and limbs from the torso.

Police went to Mitchell’s property after Hind had failed to return to the hostel. Before he left he had told people he was going to meet Mitchell.

Officers noted that Mitchell’s home had been extensively cleaned but found a spot of blood on the bathroom wall.

Robert HindRobert Hind
Robert Hind

Mitchell was arrested and told police where the body parts could be recovered.

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The killer then claimed he had attacked Hind in temper when he told him he had full blown AIDS as they were laid in bed.

Mr Reed said the prosecution disputed Mitchell’s account because he would have known about Hind’s condition for a considerable period of time before the attack.

Peter Killen, mitigating, said Mitchell no longer disputed the prosecution case.

Mitchell was sentenced in his absence after refusing to come to court. He had also refused to leave his prison cell to attend on previous occasions