THE devastated siblings of a man who was murdered by his neighbour have described their brother’s killer as a ‘monster’.

William Wilkinson was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing Edward Forrester, 55, with a wooden stick with a heavy bung at the end of it on September 1 last year.

Over the next few days the 65-year-old then systematically dismembered Mr Forrester’s corpse, Prosecutor David Temkin KC said.

He then hid his body across Lancashire and Cumbria.   

READ MORE HERE: Killer who murdered neighbour and scattered body parts in Cumbria jailed

In a harrowing victim impact statement read into the court record, Eddie’s family said: “We couldn’t eat or focus on anything knowing he had been murdered and butchered.

“There are bitter feelings when people are enjoying themselves and speaking about their great lives. This is not their fault or our fault. It is the actions of this one person that caused this.

“It is hard to believe what that monster did to him. It is like something you see on the TV when you watch crime dramas.

“You watch those from the comfort of your own home and never think it could be you who suffers that incredible act of evil. We will never fully process what happened to him.”

Blood pattern analysis showed Wilkinson struck forceful blows to Mr Forrester in Wilkinson’s flat. Forensic scientists confirmed the blows were given whilst Eddie was both upright and on the floor.

Forensic experts also found Eddie’s blood on the carpet, walls, skirting boards and stairs, as well as in the communal hallway.

Mr Temkin KC said Wilkinson then took steps to conceal the body parts. He said many were recovered, but that the heart and other vital organs were still missing.

Wilkinson looked expressionless as the details of his barbaric actions were told to the court.

The court heard Wilkinson used a white Peugeot Boxer van to move and dispose of Mr Forrester’s body parts in Blackpool and Cumbria.

After His Honour Judge Altham announced Wilkinson would serve 19 years and three months for murder, a member of the victim’s family shouted out in court: “Animal,” as he was being escorted out of the courtroom.

The court heard Eddie’s family were not able to hold a timely funeral for Mr Forrester until several months later because of their ongoing hope that the missing body parts would be located.

Speaking after the sentencing outside court, Detective Superintendent Mark Haworth-Oates read some additional comments on behalf the family.

He said: “As the siblings of Edward, we cannot believe that this savage, brutal and diabolic murder has happened. This was inflicted on our brother Edward – a quiet and harmless individual, who wouldn’t hurt a sole.

“When we were initially told that Edward had been murdered, we thought it would be a single act possibly a punch, an irrational act, someone who would be sorry for what they had done.

“But what we have found to have happened to Edward, to disregard him as a human being and prevent him from being laid to rest as a whole person, has sickened our family and is something we will never get over.

“Edward will be sadly missed and loved by many and we are happy that today, justice has been served.”