Bournemouth murder trial: Neighbours smelt 'burning flesh'

Neighbours of Benjamin Atkins and Debbie Pereira recalled multiple fires burning in the garden of the couple’s Boscombe flat last August.

When asked about the “putrid smells”, Atkins said he was cremating a dead fox.

Atkins, 49, and Pereira, 39, are currently facing trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of murdering 49-year-old Simon Shotton.

Prosecutors allege the couple murdered Mr Shotton in their flat at 18B Aylesbury Road on August 18, before dumping his dismembered remains around Boscombe.

Atkins has already admitted to burning Mr Shotton's head and disposing of the fragments in an alley near to his flat. On Tuesday, and day eight of the trial, the jury heard from six of the defendants’ neighbours.

One neighbour, Dean Swift, reported how on the afternoon of August 19, he could smell smoke which he likened to “burning flesh”.

Aylesbury Road (Image: NQ)

Mr Swift also recalled how Atkins had asked him to borrow some magnolia paint on August 23 because ‘his nephew had drawn all over the walls and he needed to cover it up’.

The jury also heard from Benjamin Glover, who had been a frequent visitor to a property immediately next door to 18B Aylesbury Road during the summer.

He described how in August, there was a “bonfire continuously lit for about three to four days” with a “very putrid smell” which he thought was from a “decomposing animal or body”.

On one occasion, Mr Glover shouted over the garden fence to ask Atkins, “What the f*** are you burning?”

Atkins reportedly told him he was burning a dead fox he’d found.

Mr Glover said he couldn’t see over the fence, but assumed it was only Atkins in the garden.

Another neighbour, David Shepherd, recalled there was a “strange bonfire in their back garden and there were noises of a chainsaw” during August.

Also that month, neighbour Mark Robins described hearing “sawing” and “several loud cracks”.

The jury then heard from Dr Deborah Cook, a home office registered pathologist who conducted post-mortems on Mr Shotton's remains.

She confirmed there were multiple small puncture wounds clustered around Mr Shotton’s left shoulder, and injuries to his wrists and hands which were consistent with being defensive in nature.

Dr Cook also looked at pictures of Atkins’ injuries to his hands, and accepted these could also be defensive in nature.

A defence statement noted Atkins and Mr Shotton had been fighting and “tussling over a knife.”

Dr Cook said the injuries sustained were “compatible with an altercation where both men have at times grasped on to a knife."

Atkins has admitted to charges of perverting the course of justice, and preventing the burial of a corpse, but denies murder.

Pereira denies perverting the course of justice, preventing the burial of a corpse and murder.

The trial continues.