NINJA SWORD KILLER JAILED
10 YEARS FOR MAN WHO KILLED HIS FRIEND, BURNED THE BODY AND BURIED HIM IN A SHALLOW GRAVE NEXT TO A48
A CARDIFF man who killed a friend and later buried the burnt remains of his body has been jailed for 10 and a half years.
Kane Burns will serve up to half the sentence in prison before being released on licence.
Burns, 26, from Pennsylvania in Llanedeyrn, killed 24-year-old Mohamed Megherbi and buried his body in a shallow grave in woodland near the A48 in Pentwyn.
Burns denied murder when the trial opened last week, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, which was accepted by the prosecution.
Prosecutor Michael Jones QC told the court Burns made “every conceivable effort” to conceal the killing.
The defendant bought lighter fluid, matches and a shovel after killing his victim and buried his burnt remains, including a fractured skull, about a metre underground.
After sentencing yesterday, a senior police officer praised the role of the public in helping to bring Burns to justice.
Janine Davies, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Kane Burns killed Mohamed Mergherbi before making great efforts to cover up what he did.
“As a result, [we] had to carefully piece evidence together from various sources to show what had actually happened.
“Once the trial had started, Burns accepted he was responsible and changed his plea.
“Mohamed Megherbi’s life was cut short in tragic circumstances and our thoughts are with his family and friends regarding their loss.”
Mr Megherbi was reported missing after he was last seen in Roath on October 9 last year.
Police found his body, which was “mostly skeletonised”, more than six weeks later on November 30 near Pentwyn Leisure Centre.
Prosecutors said there was a fracture to the skull, which would typically be caused by a weapon like a machete, axe or cleaver.
A large, rusty machete and an axe were recovered by police from the defendant’s flat, while a pair of “ninja swords” were found in the woodland.
Burns admitted unlawful killing, stating: “I was attacked in my flat by Mohamed Megherbi.
“I defended myself and accept I went too far in self-defence.”
Prosecutor Michael Jones QC told yesterday’s Cardiff hearing about Burns’ criminal record.
Burns had 21 convictions for 30 offences, including burglary, theft, producing cannabis and harassment.
In June 2018 he was jailed for 20 weeks, suspended for 12 months, for battery, harassment and criminal damage.
The new offence was committed in breach of the suspended sentence.
Mr Jones said Mohamed Megherbi’s body was found by South Wales Police on November 30.
The court heard Mr Megherbi’s family were allowed time to pray with the body, but were “distressed” when they could not take his remains back to Algeria, as forensic work was ongoing.
His body was finally repatriated on February 2.
Prosecutor Mr Jones said the steps taken by Burns to conceal the body were “extreme”.
“It involved the transporting, the burial and indeed the destruction of that corpse,” he said.
Burns also used bleach and accelerants. Burns stole Mr Megherbi’s mobile phone after killing him, the court heard.
Mr Jones said: “We say this was a further attempt to dispose of evidence.”
He argued it was an aggravating feature that Burns had other “unexplained” weapons in his flat, including a machete and an axe.