Two Men Convicted of Murder in Yeovil Mistaken Identity Case

Mark Roberts and David Garland were convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court for the murder and conspiracy to murder of Michael Wheeler, their friend from Yeovil, Somerset. The men mistakenly believed Wheeler was a convicted paedophile after confusing him with another man of the same name who was jailed in 2003 for child sexual offences; however, the victim had no such convictions. Wheeler, who owed Roberts £100, was attacked at Roberts' flat in the early hours of August 24, 2024, suffering multiple injuries including 11 skull and facial fractures, and his body was subsequently hidden. His remains were discovered over a month later in a derelict caravan on farmland near Yarlington after police received tips and conducted extensive searches. Detective Superintendent Lorett Spierenburg described the killing as brutal and emphasized that Wheeler was murdered by people he had considered friends, without any opportunity to defend himself against the mistaken allegations. Additionally, Garland admitted to preventing Wheeler’s lawful and decent burial, and three other men initially charged were cleared of all involvement.