Man given whole life sentence for admitting murders nearly 35 years later

David Fuller will spend the rest of his life in jail

Author: Rory GannonPublished 15th Dec 2021

A man has been jailed for life after admitting he murdered two women almost 35 years ago.

David Fuller, 67, confessed to the killings of 20-year-old Caroline Pierce and 25-year-old Wendy Knell in Kent in 1987.

In addition, Fuller also admitted to sexually assaulting the bodies of women and girls lying in hospital morgues.

The attacks took place in the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, where Fuller used to work as an electrician from 1989.

In total, over 100 women dead women were filmed being sexually assaulted by Fuller. Some of the bodies he abused were as young as nine-years old.

Fuller continued to abuse the bodies of women and girls for twelve years before being caught by police in December 2020.

David Fuller appeared via video link for the duration of his trial.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Fuller was handed a whole-life sentence, meaning that the 67-year-old will die in jail.

Fuller had initially admitted to manslaughter by diminished responsibility. However, he later pleaded guilty to the murders of Ms Pierce and Ms Knell.

He also would plead guilty to another 51 offences including indecent assault and extreme pornography spanning from 2008 to 2020.

Speaking at his sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said that behind the typical life he lived, Fuller committed heinous acts.

"You became a vulture, picking your victims from among the dead within the hidden world of hospital mortuaries which you were free to inhabit simply because you had a swipe card," she said.

"The depravity of what you did reveals your conscience is seared. You will spend every day of the rest of your life in prison."

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