Forensic police searched the Calista unit.
Camera IconForensic police searched the Calista unit. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Orelia man who killed, dismembered friend sentenced to life

Gabrielle JefferyWeekend Kwinana Courier

A MAN who killed his friend and interfered with his corpse did so because the friend would not give him $100.

David John Napier was sentenced to life in prison by the Supreme Court on August 4.

Justice Bruno Fiannaca said Napier was convicted after pleading guilty to murder and interfering with a corpse with intent to prevent or prejudice an investigation into murder.

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“To ordinary, decent members of the community, your crimes would defy comprehension,” he said.

“You are someone who impressed as a mild-mannered middle-aged man. In an instant, on an ordinary day in August 2016, you turned into someone capable of monstrous behaviour, violently attacking and killing your good friend Richard Andrews, in his home when he was unsuspecting, and then desecrating his body in the most horrific way.”

Justice Fiannaca said Mr Andrews had only ever shown Napier kindness.

“You betrayed his trust. You killed him because you were desperate for money, a result of your reckless gambling.

“Having killed him, you plundered his savings and callously went about concealing the murder.”

“These were crimes of the gravest kind.”

After the murder Napier upheld a façade that suggested Mr Andrews was still alive and had gone on a holiday.

Napier was unemployed and had a gambling debt of $20,000 at the time.

On August 4, Napier visited Mr Andrews and while in a depressed state asked to borrow $100 for petrol and food.

Mr Andrews refused to give Napier the money.

The refusal angered Napier and from there he made plans to kill Mr Andrews.

He later killed Mr Andrews by approaching him from behind and hitting with a hammer several times.

He then dissected the body hiding it in different locations to prevent police finding out what he had done.

He cleaned Mr Andrews’ home with bleach to remove evidence, emptied his bank accounts and forged documents to avoid suspicion. However a neighbour became suspicious and reported it to police.

He eventually confessed when police said a forensic investigation was being conducted at the house where a significant amount of blood had been found.

“The fact that you dealt with Mr Andrews’ body in such a ghastly way is distressing for his loved ones and has increased the loss and pain they have suffered,” Justice Fiannaca said.

Justice Fiannaca sentenced him to a minimum of 22 years imprisonment for the murder and another 4 years and 6 months for the interference charge.

They were backdated to September 19 when Napier was taken into custody.

“The sentence can never reflect the value of a victim’s life,” he said.

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