'Animal' beat neighbour to death with stick before hiding body parts in bins
20.01.2024 - 15:03
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A man beat his neighbour to death before dismembering him and hiding his body. William Wilkinson killed Edward Forrester with a wooden stick with a heavy bung at the end of it on September 1, 2023.
In the days that followed, the 65-year-old, of Sealand Road, Blackpool, systematically dismembered Mr Forrester's corpse, using tools including an electric saw.
He then took steps to conceal the body parts. Many were recovered, but some body parts including the heart and other vital organs have never been found, LancsLive reports.
Edward Forrester, known as Eddie, was 'somewhat vulnerable'. He had mild learning difficulties from a brain injury he suffered in the 90s. During a sentencing at Preston Crown Court yesterday (January 19), a lifelong friend was heard to describe him as a 'very likeable man'.
Try MEN Premium now for FREE... just click here to give it a go.
As William Wilkinson was led from court to begin a sentence of 19 years and three months, a member of his victim's family could be heard shouting: "Animal."
Blood pattern analysis shows the defendant struck forceful blows into wet blood. Forensic scientists concluded those blows were rained down on Mr Forrester when he was both upright and on the floor.
On 1 September, CCTV shows Wilkinson carrying loaded plastic bags out of his property and returning empty handed. This was the first of a number of journeys on foot to local bins, with the smaller body parts and Mr Forrester's possessions.
Wilkinson hid a key to Mr Forrester's flat in the brickwork of a wall in an alleyway. He then moved other body parts to his van which was parked outside the flats.
In the days after the murder, Wilkinson set about a 'systematic, considered and geographically wide ranging'