Huddersfield man jailed for life for murder of 77-year-old neighbour

A Huddersfield man has been jailed for life for the murder of his 77-year-old neighbour, having attacked him in his own home.

David Hill, 57, of South Cross Road, was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court for the murder of Kurt Giwisser and will serve at least 16 and a half years behind bars.

The attack took place on February 21 2023 when Hill went to Mr Giwisser’s address, demanding the door be opened.

As Mr Giwisser answered, Hill punched him in the face and forced his way into the property.

He then continued to assault him as he lay on the floor before fleeing the scene.

The pensioner managed to call emergency services and was taken to hospital for treatment.

He was discharged, but his health deteriorated in the following weeks, and passed away in April.

Medical experts reviewed the case earlier this year and confirmed a direct link between the injuries Mr Giwisser sustained during the assault and his death.

Detective Inspector Suzanne Hall of West Yorkshire Police said: “We welcome the sentencing of Hill today for a sustained and violent attack which took the life of his neighbour and robbed Kurt’s family of a much loved father and grandfather.

“Despite being 77, Kurt was still fit, healthy and having a really positive impact on the lives of those around him, and all that was taken away by the brutal actions of Hill.

“The impact of Kurt’s loss on his daughters, grandchildren and his friends has been clear to see, and I hope they can take some measure of comfort from seeing him convicted and sentenced by the court today.“

In a tribute, Mr Giwisser’s family spoke of their devastating loss:

“Kurt was a gentle, caring and proud man. He was always immaculate in how he dressed and how he carried himself."

"He loved his guitar and the sound of him playing brought warmth and comfort into our home.

People loved him because he was easy to talk to, warm-hearted and genuine.

"One of his favourite simple pleasures was going for a drink in the coffee shop. It was part of his routine, somewhere he could relax, chat and feel part of the community.

"Even there, people miss him. His absence is felt everywhere he used to go.

"His grandchildren and great-grandchildren adored him, and he adored them right back. They should have had so many more laughs, so many stories, so much more time.

"That is a loss that stretches across generations.

"Since the day he was taken from us, our lives have been filled with grief, fear and emptiness.

"Family gatherings feel incomplete. There is an empty space where he should be. A silence where his laughter and music should fill the room. Even moments of happiness feel overshadowed by the fact he is not here to share them with us.

"What happened didn’t only end his life, it shattered ours.

"The trauma of having to decide to end life support, the cruelty of the violence he suffered, and the lifelong grief we must now live with, has changed us forever. There’s no going back to the people we were before.”