Man convicted of killing and chopping up Paisley man

A convicted killer has been jailed for a minimum of 26 years for murdering a man then chopping up his body.

David Collins attacked 32 year-old Kevin Bishop with a machete at his home in Paisley, Renfrewshire last July.

Kevin's torso was later discovered dumped in a bin outside the flat.

Collins told jurors he had been acting in self-defence at the time of the attack.

But, the 46 year-old was found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Prosecutor Gillian Ross then revealed Collins had been convicted of culpable homicide in 2002.

The thug was jailed for five years at the time after killing his father – also David – with a sword.

A murder probe was launched last summer after Kevin had initially been reported missing by worried family.

Police had made the grim find of the heavily-bound torso in a wheelie-bin.

His head, arms and legs were never recovered. Collins was soon held for the killing.

It emerged he had effectively confessed to his ex-partner Anne Melville.

He said there had been a confrontation and that “Kevin died”.

Anne went on to ask him: “What are you going to do? Fire him in a wheelie bin?”

But, Collins insisted body parts were “already away”.

Despite what he said, Anne told jurors she did not believe her ex.

The mum later went to Collins flat with their daughter to give him a birthday present.

Anne also brought with her a suitcase that belonged to him.

Collins took it in a bedroom – and came back out “heavily sweating”.

Anne recalled going in at one point and there was “something on the floor wrapped in plastic”.

Anne added: “He lifted it and put in the suitcase.”

Miss Ross asked: “Did you question him as to what he was doing?”

She replied: “No.”

The trio then went outside and Collins had the case with him.

Anne: “He put it in the bin...it looked heavy.”

Collins then poured a bottle of aftershave on top to mask any smell that might emerge.

But, Anne insisted: “I did not know what to do. I thought I will wait and see if the guy turns up. There was nothing that I could do.”

After police found the torso, Collins later branded his ex “a grass”.

The trial was told the cause of Kevin's death could not be confirmed.

Collins gave evidence and claimed Kevin had come at him first with a knife.

He insisted only swinging the machete to “scare” the dad.

Collins told it took only five minutes to hack off Kevin's head and around an hour for the limbs.

The killer said he was “sick” at what had happened.

Lady Rae ordered Collins serve a minimum 26 years for the murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

She told him: "It would appear that for some reason, if there was one, that you effectively beheaded him.

"You then went to elaborate lengths to destroy evidence which might have implicated you in what appeared to be a motiveless killing."

The judge said Kevin's family had been unable to "properly put his body to rest".

The judge concluded: "What you did was despicable and sickening.

"You gave evidence - I detected no real remorse for what you did.