The family of murder victim Roy Reynolds could have been denied the opportunity to bury him if a member of the public had not discovered his body, prosecutors have said.
Mr Reynolds, 54, died after being beaten and stabbed at at a flat in Rathcoole, Co Antrim, in March 2022.
His body was placed in a car boot and then dumped at North Woodburn Reservoir, near Carrickfergus.
Two men were sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday over his death.
Michael Campbell was told he would serve a minimum of 21 years for the murder, while Robert Fulton was sentenced for helping to dispose of the body.
Police and prosecutors said Mr Reynolds’ body was found in shallow water following a call from a member of the public.
Senior Public Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Mairead Lavery said: “Campbell subjected Mr Reynolds to a ferociously violent and senseless attack, inflicting a horrific catalogue of more than 100 individual injuries.
“After the murder he called Fulton, who agreed to drive him to the reservoir, where Campbell attempted to conceal Mr Reynolds’ body by attaching his remains to a cement block and putting his body in the water.
“Had his remains not been discovered hours later by a member of the public, these callous actions could have robbed his family of a burial.”
She added: “The prosecution team in the PPS Serious Crime Unit worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who had carried out a thorough investigation, to bring Campbell and his co-accused before the court and build a strong case against both defendants, resulting in guilty pleas.
“Mr Reynolds was much-loved and his loss in these most painful circumstances has left a terrible void in the lives of his family and friends.
“I want to thank Mr Reynolds’ loved ones for their dignity throughout these proceedings.
“I hope that the conclusion of this case will bring some small sense of comfort as they attempt to rebuild their lives without him.”
A PSNI detective said there was no justification for the events which led to Mr Reynolds’ death.
Detective Inspector Sean Armstrong said: “Following a call from a member of the public, police found a partially submerged and semi-naked body in a reservoir in Carrickfergus.
“This was on the morning of Monday 28 March 2022.
“The deceased was identified as Mr Roy Reynolds, and a post-mortem examination confirmed he had sustained multiple injuries, including stab wounds.
“Distressingly, there were over 100 injuries to his body.”
He continued: “We know that Roy had been out walking in Rathcoole on the evening of Sunday 27 March, and had stopped to speak with Michael Campbell, before being invited into Campbell’s home.
“In the early hours of Monday, police received a report of a body being dragged from Campbell’s apartment and placed in the boot of a car.”
Police subsequently stopped the car on the Rathcoole estate, where it was being driven by Fulton with Campbell as the passenger.
Mr Armstrong said: “The pair were heading back from the direction of the reservoir.
“Officers observed blood stains on the back bumper, inside the boot, and on Campbell’s hands and clothing.”
He added: “There’s no comprehending, and certainly no justification for, this tragic event.
“Roy, who was aged 54, had his life taken in a horrific attack – a murder made even more disturbing by the callous way in which the two subsequently disposed of his body. This was the most brutal and senseless loss of a life.
“Today, working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service, and thanks to the support of members of the public, the two defendants have been held accountable.
“I know that Roy’s loving family have understandably been left broken-hearted, and my thoughts, and that of our team, remain with them. Roy was a much-loved father and grandfather, a brother and an uncle.
“And, while no words can take away their pain, I’m keen to acknowledge the strength, dignity and patience they have shown throughout the criminal justice process.”
