Bank card found under murder accused's decking

News imageDevon and Cornwall Police Daniel Coleman is seen in a headshot wearing a black shirt and looking into the camera on the left, while Claudio Aquilino is seen wearing a black cap sunglasses on his head and a red T-shirt, looking to the side, on the right
Devon and Cornwall Police
The remains of Daniel Coleman (left) and Claudio Aquilino (right) were found in Cornish woodland

A bank card, watch and gym membership card belonging to two dead men were among items found in a tin under a decking belonging to a man accused of murder, a jury has heard.

James Desborough, of Old Oak Woods, Lower Sticker, has denied murdering Claudio Aquilino, 57, between 17 April and 7 July, and Daniel Coleman, 43, between 2 June and 7 July last year.

The 40-year-old, who lived in a cabin in the woods, previously pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of Aquilino and Coleman. Winchester Crown Court heard Coleman's phone was found under Desborough's bed.

Jurors heard police also found a note at the cabin, written by Desborough, with a list of names headed 'hostiles'.

'Odds against me'

Jurors heard a missing person report was made for Coleman on 18 June, but payments from Coleman and Aquilino's bank accounts continued to be made.

Desborough sent a text message to his son and told him he loved him adding, "I've got to go away again the odds are a little more against me".

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Desborough boarding a train from St Austell to London, when a payment of £6.50 was made from Aquilino's account. A Great Western Railway (GWR) receipt was later found by police at Desborough's property.

On 30 June Desborough was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation at his home address in Paramoor Woods. He was further arrested on suspicion of the murder of Daniel Coleman.

Police carried out a search on 2 July when the items were located under the decking.

The court heard a watch, believed to belong to Coleman, and his bank card were among the items found. A gym membership card and a SMARTY SIM card belonging to Aquilino were also located.

Jurors heard Aquilino was raised as a missing person at 21:10 BST on the same day by Devon and Cornwall Police, following identification of a sim card registered to him being found under Desborough's decking.

The trial continues.

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