Hoyland man's remains entombed in concrete after shooting, murder trial told

Richard Dyson, 55, failed to meet up with his daughter, Bethany, in November 2019. A missing persons investigation was launched, but in July 14, 2025, human remains were discovered on Broadcarr Road and confirmed as his. Christopher Wright, 73, of Sheffield Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, was charged with Mr Dyson’s murder. Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC said the Crown’s case was that Mr Wright murdered Mr Dyson on November 17, 2019. He told the jury it may emerge that Mr Dyson had stolen firearms from Mr Wright and sold them. “It may be that Wright’s motive for the murder of Mr Dyson arose out of those thefts,” Mr Moulson said. He told Sheffield Crown Court that for several years before his death, Mr Dyson had lived in a vehicle parked at Mr Wright’s home, Parkside Cottage, Sheffield Road in Hoyland. “You might ultimately conclude that Mr Dyson bit the hand that fed or helped him, and thereafter was made to pay the ultimate price with his life.” “It is the Crown’s contention that the defendant Mr Wright was something of a weapons fanatic and collector of the same.“ “Therefore the theft by anyone including Dyson of any of his weapons would have been especially irritating to Mr Wright.” Mr Dyson’s “neatly severed” remains were found inside a barrel filled with concrete, on a trailer on farmland near to Mr Wright’s property. Mr Moulson said it is the Crown’s case that after murdering Mr Dyson, Mr Wright sought - and was given - the assistance of Karl Schwable, his best friend. Phone evidence allegedly shows a short phone conversation between the two men on the night Mr Dyson was allegedly murdered, with Mr Schwable visiting. Two days after the alleged killing, Mr Wright’s bank card was used for a purchase at a builders’ merchants. Following that, Mr Wright is alleged to have asked a farmer with land nearby if he could park a trailer there, with the barrel containing Mr Dyson’s remains. “They embarked, say the Crown, upon a course of conduct relating to the disposal of the body and then lied about it for many years,” said the prosecutor. Mr Wright is accused of Mr Dyson’s murder, preventing a lawful burial, along with weapons offences including possessing prohibited firearms, possessing firearms including a shotgun and ammunition without certificates. Mr Wright and Mr Schwalbe, of Dike Hill, Harley, Rotherham, are both charged with perverting the course of justice. They deny the charges. The trial continues.