Fan of TV serial killer 'Dexter' killed cellmate while awaiting trial for murdering TWO others, jurors told

By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 15:38, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 15:39, 20 July 2026 A SERIAL killer fan strangled a prison cellmate while on trial for murdering two other men and dismembering their bodies in Cornish woodland, a court has heard. Former construction firm boss James Desborough, 40, killed inmate Steven Kempster, 65, in his bed at HMP Exeter in Devon in September last year.  Desborough is currently on trial accused of murdering two other men and chopping up their bodies near the cabin in remote woodland where he lived.   He is accused of killing Claudio Aquilino, 57, and Daniel Coleman, 43, and leaving them in shallow graves by a stream in secluded woodland in Sticker, Cornwall. Desborough has previously pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of Mr Coleman and Mr Aquilino but denies murder and is on trial at Winchester Crown Court. On Wednesday, jurors were told that Desborough was convicted of murdering Mr Kempster in March this year. That case has been subject to reporting restrictions until today. James Desborough (pictured) is accused of murdering Claudio Aquilino and Daniel Coleman The body of Daniel Coleman, 43, was found close to the woodland home of Desborough on the outskirts of Sticker, Cornwall The body of Claudio Aquilino, 57, was also found Prosecutor Ahmed Hossain KC told the court: 'On the 27 March 2026 at Exeter Crown Court, James Desborough was convicted by a jury of the murder of Steven Kempster. 'On the 16 March 2026, which was the first day of that trial for the murder of Steven Kempster, James Desborough entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter which was not accepted by the prosecution. 'The facts of this conviction are that on 15 September 2025 James Desborough murdered Steven Kempster - with whom he shared a cell at HMP Exeter, whilst on remand for the current allegations - by compression of the neck by strangulation.' Desborough had been in custody after he was accused of killing and leaving his alleged victims in shallow graves by a stream in the secluded woodland in summer of last year. The court has been told that police discovered 1,900 burnt bone fragments believed to be from the body of Mr Aquilino in Paramoor woods, where Desborough lived in a cabin while a police diver found a 'piece of flesh' belonging to Mr Aquilino in the stream, a court has been told. Notebooks were also found in Desborough's cabin with one containing a list of 'hostiles' - which included Mr Coleman. Another note said: 'I know I am a killer and ready to execute any predators.' Jurors were told Desborough was a fan of the hit TV show Dexter - in which the lead character is a serial killer who dismembers his victims. DNA was also discovered on an axe that was hanging from a tree by one of the shallow graves. It was heard that Desborough attempted to burn their bodies and hide them in a 'shallow grave' in a stream to hide the fact that they were dead. Mr Aquilino's bank card was used by Desborough to take a train to London.  The trio met at a shared accommodation block called Sandy Lodge for people with addiction issues in Newquay, Cornwall, where they were housemates. Ahmed Hossain KC prosecuting, told the court: 'After each of them disappeared, their bank accounts were accessed and their money was spent by James Desborough. 'He killed them, he dismembered their bodies, he attempted to burn and bury their remains to conceal what he had done, and then used their money whilst at the same time lying to those around him about where they had gone.' Mr Hossain said a fellow resident in Newquay called Craig Cudmore told police that Desborough had told him that he 'particularly enjoyed the dismemberment scenes' in the TV programme Dexter. The prosecutor said: 'That is a series which involves scenes of dismemberment and disposal of bodies.' Earlier, the jury were shown photos of various saws, an axe, a chainsaw and knives found in and around the defendant's cabin. Desborough, of Old Oak Woods, Sticker, denies two counts of murder. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.