Man jailed for murder after body found in Cornish reservoir
Nigel Honey has been given a life sentence
Last updated 24th Jun 2021
A man has been jailed for murder after a body was found in a reservoir in west Cornwall.
Police were called to Drift Service Reservoir, near Penzance, back in February after reports that a body had been seen in the water.
37-year-old Edward Hinds was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was originally from the Midlands but had been living in the Lelant area for several weeks.
A few days later Nigel Honey was charged with his murder.
The 50-year-old of Fore Street, Lelant, appeared at Truro Crown Court today (Wednesday 23rd June) and pleaded guilty to murder.
He was sentenced to life in prison for murder, to serve a minimum of 18-and-a-half years.
What happened?
Police were called to Drift Service Reservoir near Penzance on Thursday 18th February, following reports that a body had been seen in the water. The body was later identified as Mr Hinds. He had died due to a stab wound to the chest.
Mr Hinds had been living in the Lelant area in the weeks leading up to his death. He had been friends with Honey for around six months and they had both moved to Cornwall from the Midlands.
Due to the remote location of the reservoir, investigating officers carried out searches for a vehicle. When they didn’t find any vehicle nearby, further enquiries were carried out and a car registered solely to Mr Hinds had been recorded travelling north on the M5.
The driver was identified as a suspect and when the car was stopped by police in Stratford Upon Avon in Warwickshire the next day 19 February, Honey was found at the wheel and arrested.
In his defence, Honey claimed that Mr Hinds had mental health issues and a drug habit and had invited him to kill him with a knife.
No murder weapon has ever been found.
What do detectives say?
“This draws to a conclusion the prosecution of Nigel Honey for the murder of Edwards Hinds.
“Honey admitted the murder, and his explanation for his actions, whilst difficult to understand to most, has been heard in detail and considered by the Judge.
“We do not live in a society where the life of another can be taken, even if, as Honey claimed, Edward wanted to die and suffered some significant challenges in life.
“He must now face the significant sentence imposed to reflect upon that fact.
“Edward’s family have behaved with the utmost of dignity throughout the whole process, and whilst I am sure many questions remain in their minds about why Edward died in the way he did, I do hope today’s sentence offers at least some closure.”
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Steve Hambly, from the Major Crime Investigation Team