A LABOURER beat and stabbed a “vulnerable” young man to death before dismembering his body and dumping the remains in bushes.
Dajour Jones, 27, killed “defenceless” 20-year-old Jamie Gilbey in a “sustained and vicious” attack before cutting up his body.
The sadistic killer then distributed Jamie’s remains in undergrowth at South Norwood Lake and Grounds in South London.
Jamie had suffered stab wounds to the soles of his feet, along with severe head injuries.
Jones was arrested five days before the body was found on March 8, having refused to tell police where the remains were located.
When subsequently charged with Jamie’s murder, he replied: “Ah, cool.”
Jones, who refused to attend court, was convicted of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey last week.
He was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years at the same court.
Jones did not appear in court for the sentencing, instead failing to comply with prison officers at HMP Belmarsh and pretending he was asleep.
During the earlier trial, jurors were told it was a “deeply disturbing” case in which the victim was a “defenceless” man.
Jamie was seen alive entering Jones’ room at a hostel where they both lived in Upper Norwood on the evening of January 27, 2022.
Simon Dennison KC, prosecuting, said: “Jamie Gilbey was never seen alive again. He didn’t leave that room alive.
“The defendant murdered him there in a brutal, sustained, and particularly disturbing attack in which he inflicted multiple blunt force injuries to Jamie’s head, and he stabbed him multiple times with a sharp weapon.”
The court heard he inflicted further stab wounds after Jamie’s death.
Mr Dennison added: “I said at the start that there were aspects of this case that were particularly disturbing, and that is why I said that.
“Only the defendant knows exactly what he did, and why.”
The day after the murder, Jones bought a large purple suitcase and was seen taking it back to his room.
He kept the body parts in a crate and dumped them in two trips to Cantley Gardens with the suitcase.
In a third trip, Jones dumped a suitcase containing clothing and blood-stained bedding.
He then carried out a “remarkably thorough” clean-up operation of his room, before seeming “extraordinarily relaxed and cheerful”.
The court heard Jamie was an “innocent victim of a highly dangerous man”, had been “too trusting” and was “too eager to please”.
The victim was “very vulnerable”, “physically unimposing” and “above all wanted to have friends”.
Giving evidence in his own trial, Jones denied he had dismembered the body, instead claiming he took it away from the hostel in one trip and handed it to three people to dispose of.
He also denied stabbing the victim’s feet after he was already dead, blaming the wounds on the people who handled the body for the injuries.
Jones had a history of violence and had previously admitted a glass attack on a member of staff at a cycling shop in London Bridge, the court heard.
He had been released from prison on licence before the murder.
Speaking after Jones’ conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan, who lead the murder investigation, said: “My thoughts go out to the family of Jamie – who lost his life in truly horrendous circumstances.
“For reasons known only to Jones, on the evening of the murder, he lured Jamie to his room intending to kill him or cause really serious harm.
“He then subjected Jamie to an extremely violent and sustained attack. Afterwards he dismembered Jamie’s body and disposed of it over a number of days.
“What is particularly chilling is that throughout this time he conducted himself in an entirely relaxed manner.
“Something had clearly been brewing in Jones’ mind as he had earlier that day asked staff at the accommodation what would happen were he to have a fight inside his room and whether the circumstances would be looked into.
“This suggests some element of pre-mediation and planning.
“It is clear to me he is a very dangerous man and I am pleased the jury made the right decision and convicted him.”
