The mum of murdered dad-of-two Neill Buchel whose body was chopped up and dumped in a Dagenham lake will never forgive his killers, a court heard this morning.
The South African was stamped and kicked to death by Chas Quye, 36, of Stansgate Road, Dagenham, and Elvis Kwiatkowski, 36, of Clopton Close, Royston, before the pair cut up his body into 10 separate pieces in Quye’s flat.
Both face sentence at Blackfriars Crown Court later today after they were convicted of murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice last month.
In a statement read out in court, Buchel’s mother, Trish Kell, said: “I find it hard to think I can ever forgive those who inflicted that pain upon him.”
She described the “sheer horror” of the way her son died and how they “ruthlessly chopped his body into pieces”.
“The people who murdered Neill have taken the joy out of our lives and taken away someone we loved and cherished,” she added. “What they desecrated so callously was a living human being.”
Summarising the written note, prosecutor Sally O’Neill QC added: “No matter how hard she tries to find forgiveness and peace in her heart, it will never come.”
Buchel was last seen alive on March 13 last year, when a group including Kwiatkowski and Quye had been drinking in Quye’s flat.
His left thigh was then found in White Hart Lakes in The Chase, Dagenham, on April 1, before police recovered a further nine dismembered body parts two days later.
Known as “Southy”, Buchel arrived in the UK with his wife Sharon in 2001, having always had an affinity with his adopted country – his grandfather having been a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War.
Mrs Buchel, who first met her husband-to-be aged 15, described him as a “loving, caring man” in a written statement read out in court, adding that he was “completely harmless and gentle”.
“He was never a violent person and was a peace-loving individual who was devoted to his daughters,” she said.
Summarising the text, Miss O’Neill added: “Hearing about the way he died will haunt her always and they will always remember him in their hearts and dreams.”
Buchel’s housemate, Scott “Gary” Hunt, 41, of Braintree Road, Dagenham, was cleared of murder last month, but found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Alan Quinn, 28, of Lynette Road, Dagenham, changed his not guilty plea to perverting the course of justice to guilty.
Bradley Andison, 47, of Villa Road, Rochester, had previously pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
The trio will be sentenced alongside Quye and Kwiatkowksi this afternoon.
Check back this afternoon to read the sentencing in full.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here