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A man known for two murders was classified as 'extremely dangerous' after killing his partner and later dismembering his gay lover.Violent and controlling individual David Mitchell was only 23 years old when he caused the death of Kathleen McKenzie, 28, by restraining her limbs and submerging her face in a partially filled bathtub, resulting in her drowning.
Her body was subsequently discovered beneath a workbench in the cellar of their shared residence in Westgate, Almondbury, Huddersfield.
It had been concealed behind a board, which was pressed against stones and scented with perfume.
In addition to drowning her, Miss McKenzie suffered 22 other distinct injuries across her body.
Mitchell’s crime was uncovered after he confided to a woman that he had killed his partner over her alleged infidelity.
She convinced him, who had escaped to Scarborough, to surrender to authorities.
Further investigations revealed that Mitchell had physically abused McKenzie throughout their relationship.
At one point, she moved out and stayed in a women's refuge before returning to him a month prior to her death.
It was also disclosed during court proceedings that Mitchell himself had been unfaithful.
He confided to a lover that he might kill Miss McKenzie and 'shove her down the cellar.' Mitchell claimed that he was intoxicated and jealous, asserting he did not intend to kill her.
He was convicted of her murder in 1991, receiving an 11-year minimum sentence.
He later escaped from HMP Kirkham in July 2012 but was recaptured after three days.
After serving roughly 23 years, Mitchell was released on licence in August 2013.
Less than four months after his release, he committed another murder.
Shortly after his release, Mitchell entered into a relationship with 46-year-old Robert Hind, a gay man, while both stayed at the same hostel in Dewsbury.
When Mitchell moved to his own home in Cowlersley, Huddersfield, they kept in contact.
On December 11, 2013, Hind left the hostel to visit Mitchell but never returned.
He was later found murdered at Mitchell’s residence, after police identified CCTV footage showing the two together.
The post-mortem confirmed that Hind had been punched, kicked, or stamped on before being strangled with a ligature following a night of drinking vodka.
The next day, CCTV captured Mitchell purchasing a hacksaw and bin liners.
Using a knife and hacksaw, Mitchell dismembered Hind’s body in his bathroom shower.
He placed the individual body parts into various bags and disposed of them near the canal in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, close to his home.
Mitchell attempted to clean the blood, clearing all but a tiny blood spot that police later found.
Investigations revealed that on that day, Mitchell searched Google for information about the sex offenses Hind had previously served time for.
When arrested, Mitchell explained that he reacted angrily when Hind disclosed he was HIV positive, claiming he attacked him after learning Hind had full-blown AIDS while they were in bed.
The prosecution argued that Mitchell’s actions were motivated by revenge or alcohol-fueled rage.
He was sentenced to a whole life term for Hind’s murder, with Judge Globe emphasizing the severity of the crimes, involving violence, suffering, dismemberment, and concealment, which increased the trauma for Hind’s family.
A senior detective from West Yorkshire Police labeled Mitchell as 'extremely dangerous,' citing his rapid reoffending shortly after release from prison.
