Hair fetishist jailed for ‘depraved’ murder and mutilation

A HAIR fetishist has been given a “whole life” jail sentence for the “depraved” and “callous” murder and mutilation of a mother of two children.

Italian national Danilo Restivo was found guilty in just five hours on Wednesday by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of the murder of Heather Barnett, 48, in 2002.

The 39-year-old was also linked during his trial to the murder of 16-year-old Elisa Claps in Italy in 1993, who was killed using the same “hallmark” method.

The trial heard that Restivo entered the flat of his neighbour Mrs Barnett, in Bournemouth, Dorset, in November 2002 and bludgeoned her with a hammer before cutting her throat.

He then cut off her breasts and left a clump of someone else’s hair in her right hand and some of her own under her left hand in the carefully planned ritualistic murder considered unique by detectives.

He left the body for Mrs Barnett’s children, Caitlin, then 11, and Terry, then 14, to find in the bathroom.

Restivo even claimed he comforted the horrified youngsters as they fled the scene just as he arrived home opposite.

The jury agreed with the prosecution that the manner of Mrs Barnett’s murder was Restivo’s “hallmark” and linked the killing to the murder of Elisa, who disappeared in Potenza, Italy, in September 1993, even though he was not charged with it.

Michael Bowes QC, prosecuting, told the court: “The prosecution’s case is that the circumstances in which Elisa Claps was killed so closely resemble the circumstances in which Heather Barnett was killed that you can have no doubt that both of the killings must have been the work of one person — that is Danilo Restivo.”

Detective Superintendent Mark Cooper said the inquiry had been “complex and challenging”.

“This was a horrendous and brutal murder and I cannot even begin to describe him (Restivo),” he said.

All 12 members of the jury chose to return to court yesterday morning to hear Restivo’s sentence.

Some of the jurors wept as they heard the victim impact statements read on behalf of Mrs Barnett’s daughter and sister.

Mr Justice Burnett told Restivo: “Why you picked Heather Barnett as your victim I do not know but it’s clear that you did so to satisfy a sadistic, sexual appetite.”

Restivo is subject to a European Arrest Warrant and is expected to be extradited to Italy to stand trial for Elisa’s murder.