A 24-year-old man has been convicted of murdering and dismembering a woman who went missing during a night out in Exeter.

Azam Mangori killed Lorraine Cox, 32, in his room above a kebab shop in the city last September.

He cut her body into seven pieces over a week, disposing of her clothing and possession in bins and woodlands.

A pathologist could not establish a cause of death because of the length of time between her murder and remains being found.

After the killing, Mangori put her SIM card in his mobile phone to pretend she was alive and well to family and friends.

However, she was reported missing to the police by her family, and Mangori was arrested in his flat on 8 September.

Following a four-week trial at Exeter Crown Court, Mangori, a failed asylum seeker liable for deportation, was convicted of murder by a jury after six hours of deliberations.

He previously admitted to a separate charge for preventing Ms Cox’s lawful burial.

Ms Cox was last seen walking home from a night out with friends at about 1.30am on 1 September.

The court heard that Ms Cox and Mangori had a “sexual” encounter in an alley before they went back to his flat.

Prosecutor Simon Laws QC told the jury the defendant had a “morbid interest in amputation” and he had previously watched videos about the subject.

Mangori bought items to dispose of Ms Cox’s body over several days, including a trowel after viewing a website called: “How to dig a grave by hand.”

Giving evidence, Mangori told the jury she died suddenly after sex in his bedroom having been drinking and taking drugs.

He said he panicked when he discovered her lying dead on the floor, and left her in his room for several days before wrapping her body in clingfilm, bin liners and tape.

“I just remember waking up, like it was a nightmare. I just freaked out when I saw her. I just dragged her on to my bed because she looked really cold,” he said.

“Deep down I knew she was dead but I thought she would wake up.”

Mr Justice Garnham will sentence Mangori on 7 April.

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