A WARPED killer who murdered a popular pub landlord in a horrifying attack has been jailed for life. Crazed drunk Lawrence Bourke decapitated Scott Gilhooly with an axe before mutilating his body in his own flat at the Swiss Bell pub in Mountbatten Road, Braintree. After his arrest, the 24-year-old made jokes to the police before starting to laugh. Mr Gilhooly, 44, had taken in Bourke and was allowing him to live in the flat with him above the pub. Bourke had a history of heavy drinking and had left his family home, having been taken in by Mr Gilhooly in 2019.
A WARPED killer who murdered a popular pub landlord in a horrifying attack has been jailed for life. Crazed drunk Lawrence Bourke decapitated Scott Gilhooly with an axe before mutilating his body in his own flat at the Swiss Bell pub in Mountbatten Road, Braintree. After his arrest, the 24-year-old made jokes to the police before starting to laugh. Mr Gilhooly, 44, had taken in Bourke and was allowing him to live in the flat with him above the pub. Bourke had a history of heavy drinking and had left his family home, having been taken in by Mr Gilhooly in 2019.
BBC News
Published
A lodger who decapitated a pub landlord for sadistic gratification has been jailed for life.
Scott Gilhooly, 44, who died from stab wounds to his chest and neck, was found at the Swiss Bell pub in Braintree, Essex, on 17 May 2020.
Lawrence Bourke, 24, was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to murder.
Judge Justice Griffiths said Bourke, of Lister Road, Braintree, had taken sadistic pleasure in the killing.
Prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the court Bourke attacked the landlord with a knife and axe, and dismembered his body to humiliate him.
The court heard Mr Gilhooly suffered 70 stab and chop wounds, including to his heart, lungs and neck.
A WARPED killer who murdered a popular pub landlord in a horrifying attack has been jailed for life. Crazed drunk Lawrence Bourke decapitated Scott Gilhooly with an axe before mutilating his body in his own flat at the Swiss Bell pub in Mountbatten Road, Braintree. After his arrest, the 24-year-old made jokes to the police before starting to laugh. Mr Gilhooly, 44, had taken in Bourke and was allowing him to live in the flat with him above the pub. Bourke had a history of heavy drinking and had left his family home, having been taken in by Mr Gilhooly in 2019.