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Ex Aylesbury Grammar student guilty of murdering dad
A former Aylesbury Grammar School student has been found guilty of murdering his father and burying him under a patio.
Mark Alexander was found guilty of murdering 70-year-old Samuel Alexander today (Wednesday) after a trial at Reading Crown Court.
The 22 year old will be sentenced on Friday.
His trial heard how he sent Christmas cards to neighbours from his father months after killing him and burying his body in the back garden.
The body of Samuel was found under layers of concrete in the back garden of his home in Prospect Place, Drayton Parslow on 10 February this year.
Samuel Alexander's disappearance was discovered after concerned villagers in Drayton Parslow told their neighbourhood policing team they hadn't seen the retired lecturer for months, despite receiving cards from him at Christmas.
They had seen his son occasionally at the house but when asked he told them his father was away, which seemed out of character.
They also reported seeing Mark Alexander taking delivery of a batch of ready mixed concrete.
A missing person enquiry was launched on 4 February and Mark Alexander was arrested on suspicion of murder the next day.
As the search continued outside in the garden, officers uncovered the remains of Samuel Alexander under layers of concrete.
Det Ch Insp Joe Kidman, who led the investigation, said: "This investigation arose out of the concerns of a close community who confided their concerns to their local neighbourhood team, which led to a prompt and robust response by local officers and detectives.
"A murder investigation with a person in custody, where no body has been found, carried out as part of a missing person enquiry, is very intense and demanding.
"The investigation team showed great tenacity and professionalism in reconstructing the lives of both the deceased victim, Samuel Alexander, and his son Mark.
"Those at the scene, including scenes of crime officers, had to endure exceptionally difficult conditions to secure evidence from the grave and recover the body."
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Weather for Aylesbury
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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