A man has been given a life sentence for the murder of Bournemouth man Simon Shotton.
Benjamin Lee Atkins, aged 49 and of Bournemouth, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 26 July 2024 after being found guilty of murder at an earlier trial.
Atkins, who had previously admitted charges of perverting the course of justice and preventing the burial of a corpse, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years.
His co-defendant Debbie Ann Pereira, aged 39 and also of Bournemouth, was sentenced to four years in prison after she was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at trial, having already admitted preventing the burial of a corpse.
The trial followed an extensive investigation by Dorset Police, which was launched when human remains were first discovered in the area of the Manor Steps Zig Zag in Boscombe on Saturday 26 August 2023.
It was a member of the public who came across the first package, containing part of a human leg and, following further searches, another similar package was located nearby.
Detectives from the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT) led on the enquiry, assisted by forensics experts, search teams, officers carrying out house-to-house enquiries and CCTV trawls as well as a range of other experts from across the Force.
Following scientific analysis, the victim was subsequently identified as Mr Shotton, aged 49, and the investigation was able to link him to the defendants. Mr Shotton had been staying at their address in Aylesbury Road and CCTV was obtained showing Atkins and Pereira selling the victim’s phone at a Cash Creators store in Boscombe.
Officers attended the address on the evening of Friday 1 September 2023 and both defendants were arrested. During searches of the rear garden further human remains – this time the victim’s arms – were found.
A further report was received at around 10.45am on Wednesday 6 September 2023 that more human remains had been found in a black suitcase in the area of Boscombe Chine Gardens, near to Boscombe Pier.
The suitcase was found to contain a human torso which was again confirmed through analysis to belong to Mr Shotton.
Following disclosure made to his legal team by Atkins at a court hearing prior to trial, information was passed to police and searches were carried out in the Walpole Lane area in Boscombe from Wednesday 28 February 2024 and search teams recovered a number of bone fragments, which were found to be from a human skull.
Throughout this period MCIT detectives, supported by officers and staff from across the Force, continued to compile evidence and work with the Crown Prosecution Service to build a case to present at trial, ultimately securing convictions for both defendants.
After the sentencing hearing, Mr Shotton’s family issued the following statement: “All the family of Simon James Shotton would like to give a very big thank you to everyone involved with our son’s case.
“Also to the jury, who had to sit through some very unpleasant evidence – thank you to you all.
“Also a very special thank you to our family liaison officers Liz and George, who have been there for us all the way your support has been a great help to us all.
“There will be no further comments from the family.”
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third, of MCIT, said: “This was an extremely complex investigation, starting from a point where we only had partial human remains and no victim identified.
“Throughout our extensive enquiries to firstly establish the identity of Mr Shotton, and then to identify those involved in his death, first and foremost in our minds has been the desire to secure justice for his family and hold Benjamin Atkins and Debbie Pereira responsible for their horrific actions.
“This was an abhorrent act and the impact upon Mr Shotton’s family of their loved one being murdered and then dismembered in this way cannot be underestimated. I would like to thank them for the dignified way they have conducted themselves throughout this investigation and the court process.
“I would also like to thank everyone from across Dorset Police who helped to investigate this matter and, with assistance from the Crown Prosecution Service, bring the case to court.”
