Life sentence for murderer who “lost the plot”

David Mitchell, 47, hacked Robert Hind’s body to pieces in Huddersfield, and dumped him in a canal after a drinking session in December 2013.

Mitchell, who had only been out of prison for four months for killing a previous girlfriend, was given a whole life tariff by Mr Justice Globe at Leeds Crown Court today.

The pair had met at a bail hostel in Dewsbury.

Hind, a convicted sex offender, was HIV positive. Also known as Robert Dack, he used to live in the Hebden Bridge area.

Mitchell claimed not to have known this and said he “lost the plot” when Hind told him on the day of the murder.

The prosecution claimed Mitchell was already aware of this.

Mr Justice Globe said: “The facts leave me in no doubt that the seriousness of the defendant’s offending is exceptionally high, and the requirements of just punishment and retribution make a whole life order a just penalty.”