James McCullough found guilty for murder, dismemberment of Alex Fraser
The jury took only just three hours to find James McCullough guilty of killing and dismembering an Orangeville man, Alex Fraser, in a London hotel back in 2013.
The verdict was announced at the London courthouse, guaranteeing McCullough life in prison for his role in the death of Alex Fraser.
Fraser, age 20 at the time of his murder, did die from a stabbing, according to the reports. McCullough took the stand during the trial, describing Fraser as a “great guy, an intelligent guy, a computer whiz” who used to drink with him.
McCullough, who admitted to dealing drugs at the time, claims the pair were planning a home invasion during the visit to London. McCullough brought a knife and two hockey bags to be used during a robbery at a home he previously lived in while attending college.
McCullough, also 20 at the time of the killing, did cocaine and drank alcohol with Fraser before having a shower. He claimed that after he was finished, Fraser was standing naked in between two hotel beds, confessed a secret love for McCullough, and said he wanted to have sex.
McCullough said he told Fraser he wasn’t gay and the two began to physically fight.
During the struggle, McCullough testified Fraser grabbed at his genitals which sent him into a frenzy that ended when he grabbed a knife from his backpack and stabbed Fraser twice in the chest.
McCullough claimed he blacked out soon after stabbing Fraser, and woke up hours later on a hotel bed. He found Fraser’s remains in the bath-tub, and claimed to have no recollection of how Fraser was dismembered.
McCullough initially told Police Fraser was a “weirdo” who brought the knife in hopes of killing him and prosecutors proposed that McCullough planned the attack, checked into a hotel with Fraser, whom he knew regularly passed out while drinking, stabbed him when he was unconscious and enjoyed dismembering his body.
This became the prevailing explanation and Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance called it “a perverse desire” to kill someone, dismember them and cannibalize their remains.
More on the original report back in 2013, click HERE