Men jailed for killing friend in identity mix-up

Two men have been jailed for life after "brutally" murdering their friend who they mistakenly believed was a paedophile.

Mark Roberts, 39, of Juniper Close in Yeovil, Somerset, and David Garland, 40, of no fixed abode, were convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

Michael Wheeler, from Yeovil, went missing in August 2024 and police found his remains a month later, hidden in an abandoned caravan on farmland in Yarlington.

The friendship had soured when the defendants read news coverage of a man with the same name, who was jailed in 2003 for grooming and sexually abusing two 13-year-old girls, police said.

The murdered man had no convictions for child sexual offences, and was only 16-years-old in 2003, police added.

The court heard Mr Wheeler's mother, who had a terminal illness, changed her "do not resuscitate" stance to try and stay alive to see the pair face trial, but died before proceedings began.

Mr Wheeler was murdered at Roberts' flat during the early hours of 24 August 2024.

Garland and Roberts were each found guilty of both the murder of Mr Wheeler and conspiracy to cause him grievous bodily harm with intent.

Garland had also previously admitted preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

Three other men who had been arrested were acquitted of any involvement.

When Mr Wheeler disappeared, his mother was suffering from a terminal illness.

She died before the trial, but had written a victim impact statement which was read out to the court.

It read: "I have had my DNR (do not resuscitate) changed so that I can try and stay alive as long as possible. I want to make it to trial. I want to see justice served on these people.

"I may not be here when this statement is read out, but that means I am with my son."

She described the sleepless nights she had after her son disappeared, and wrote of the anger and pain she felt at his loss.

"I wasn't able to see Michael once he had been found and this was because of the circumstances he was found in," she said.

"This upset me, I wanted to say goodbye to him. As a family we haven't been able to get back to normal."

Mr Wheeler's older sister described him as a "loving man with a big heart" who always made time for her children.

She said: "It breaks my heart that he will never get to see them grow up. The children miss their uncle terribly.

"Michael never had the chance to say goodbye to our mum - he was her golden boy. When we got the news from the police, mum's health deteriorated so quickly.

"I was caring for her, and to lose both my brother and then mum shortly after has been unbearable.

"I'm saddened to think she left us without knowing the full truth of what happened to Michael."

Mr Wheeler's sister told the court she was "filled with anger and confusion" over why anyone would want to kill her brother.

"It has scarred me for life," she said. "This loss is going to affect me forever. Although the trial is over, the pain remains. I want my brother back."

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