An investigation by Met detectives has led to a murder conviction after a vulnerable young man was beaten to death before his body was dismembered and hidden in a nearby park.
Following a nine-week trial, 27-year-old Dajour Jones was found guilty of the murder of Jamie Gilbey, 20, after a unanimous verdict.
The jury heard how both men lived in the same supported housing accommodation in Upper Norwood. On the evening of Thursday, 27 January 2022, while the pair were in Jones’ room, Jones subjected Jamie to a brutal and prolonged attack, hitting him around his head and stabbing him multiple times.
The pair were seen on CCTV leaving the address together at around 17.30hrs. It is unclear where they went then, but by 18:10hrs, they had returned, and both went into Jones’ room, where the attack followed.
Afterwards, Jones spent time dismembering Jamie’s body inside his room before buying a large purple suitcase and then making several trips to nearby South Norwood Country Park to dump the body in black bags in deep undergrowth.
At around 13.45hrs on Sunday, 27 February, officers carrying out routine patrols in the park discovered the suitcase in undergrowth in Love Lane SE25. Inside were bloodstained items of clothing. After forensic testing, detectives confirmed the garments belonged to both Jamie and Jones. It was at this point that police informed Jamie’s family of their fears that he had come to harm.
Following the discovery of the suitcase, officers continued to search the vast park, and on the morning of 8 March, specialist officers sadly recovered Jamie’s body in South Norwood Lake and grounds – around two miles from where the suitcase was discovered and just a few hundred yards from the hostel.
On 30 January, staff at the hostel reported Jamie was missing, and local police carried out various enquiries. After they were unable to find any proof that he was alive, the case was passed to a murder investigation team.
Detectives set about establishing who was responsible for Jamie’s suspected murder, confirming Jones was the last known person to have been with him.
They scoured hours of CCTV footage and uncovered the footage of Jamie and Jones returning to their accommodation together on the night of the murder. Detectives executed a warrant at the property, and a forensic search of Jones’ room revealed traces of Jamie’s blood. Hidden behind a sink in the room were various bottles of cleaning fluid, which had clearly been used in an attempt to conceal the murder.
Officers were then able to source footage of Jones leaving the venue in the days that followed in possession of the purple suitcase. They were able to establish that he made several trips with the item and believe that during the first two, Jamie’s body was inside the suitcase.
Jones was arrested on 3 March – before Jamie’s body was discovered. He refused to tell officers what had happened to Jamie or what he had done with the body. When he was charged a couple of days later, he responded, “Ah. Cool.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Nolan, who led the murder investigation, said, “My thoughts go out to the family of Jamie – who lost his life in truly horrendous circumstances.
“For reasons known only to Jones, on the evening of the murder, he lured Jamie to his room intending to kill him or cause really serious harm. He then subjected Jamie to an extremely violent and sustained attack. Afterwards, he dismembered Jamie’s body and disposed of it over a number of days.
“What is particularly chilling is that throughout this time he conducted himself in an entirely relaxed manner. Something had clearly been brewing in Jones’ mind as he had earlier that day asked staff at the accommodation what would happen were he to have a fight inside his room and whether the circumstances would be looked into. This suggests some element of pre-mediation and planning.
“It is clear to me he is a very dangerous man, and I am pleased the jury made the right decision and convicted him.”
Dajour Jones, who is of no fixed address, will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 13 December.
