The murderer who killed his friend unprovoked and hid the body in St James Park will be jailed next week. Richard Michael Hand, 43, of Falmouth Way in […]By Waltham Forest Echo

Richard Michael Hand killed his victim while on bail for another violent attack (Met Police)

The murderer who killed his friend unprovoked and hid the body in St James Park was jailed for life.

Richard Michael Hand, 43, of Falmouth Way in Walthamstow, was found guilty following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey of the murder of 37-year-old Yassar Moussa.

Evidence suggests Yassar went to visit his supposed friend in his Walthamstow home on 22nd August last year and was stabbed in the neck. His body was discovered in the undergrowth in St James Park two days later.

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Police arrested Hand five days after Yassar was found and, after searching his home, discovered bloodstained clothing in communal bins outside, as well as a bent knife and cleaning materials, including bottles of bleach.

The murder took place when Hand was already on bail for the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man, who he hit on the head with an axe at an address in south west London in January last year.

Lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith said: “Richard Hand is a dangerous man who has launched two unprovoked attacks on men who thought they were his friends.

“I am glad he has now been brought to justice and is likely to be sentenced to serve a significant portion of the rest of his life in jail.”

Hand was jailed for life on 19th October, following the original publication of this article, and must serve a minimum of 30 years before he is eligible for parole.

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