Yahoo News Suspected child killer, 54, found murdered 'by vigilantes' at home weeks after being released from prison
A suspected child killer has been found murdered in his home in an alleged vigilante attack just weeks after leaving prison.
The body of David Gaut, 54, was discovered in a rented council flat in New Tredegar, near Caerphilly, in Wales, where he moved in alone six weeks ago.
It is thought locals believed he was the same man of that name who was jailed for life in July 1985 for the murder and torture of a 17-month-old boy.
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of Gaut’s murder, but police have refused to confirm whether the victim is the same man as the convicted child killer.
Villagers have said feelings were running “very high” as people became convinced about Gaut’s past.
A David Gaut, then 21, was jailed for life in July 1985 for the murder, just 11 miles from New Tredegar, and spent 33 years behind bars.
He was babysitting his girlfriend’s son Chi Ming Shek – known as Marky – when he battered, kicked, and burned the sole of the child’s foot.
The child’s mother, Jane Pickthall, then 23, had been out drinking and left Gaut to look after her two young children.
When she returned to the home in Caerphilly, she had sex with Gaut, but the next day she found her son’s dead body under a chest of drawers.
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The murder trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard Gaut tried to make the death look accidental.
But pathologist Dr Owen Williams said the baby’s injuries could have been caused by punching, kicking, falling, being thrown or a combination of these.
Prosecutor Aubrey Myerson QC said while the mother was out neighbours heard loud noises – including banging and crashes.
Miss Pickthall told a jury how she found her son dead underneath a chest of drawers in his bedroom. She could see he was badly bruised in the groin area, chest and forehead.
Mr Myerson said: “The killing did not arise from just one attack but from a series of assaults.”
Unemployed Gaut told police the child had got out of the cot and claimed he smacked the tot’s bottom but he fell down the stairs.
He said he gave Marky mouth-to-mouth and put him back in the cot – because he “looked all right”.
The baby died of multiple injuries including a broken arm, injured liver and spleen and a fractured skull.
Gaut was convicted of murder and jailed for life in July 1985 – but would have been due to apply for parole since then.
Police confirmed the name of the man found dead in New Tredegar as David Gaut but gave no further details about his identity.
A source said: “This is an active murder investigation and we would never comment on claims about a victim’s past.”
Neighbours spoke of their shock and say they do not feel safe after a series of people were moved into social housing.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It used to be just old age pensioners and disabled people but about two months ago they started to move in other people.
“I don’t feel safe to stay here. I’d like to move unless they do something about it. We have a school at the end of the road 100 yards away.”
Another neighbour said: “There have been a lot of rumours around here and some people remember the baby being killed – it was a horrible crime.
“People get angry at the thought of the village being used as a dumping ground.”
Mr Gaut’s body was discovered at about 3pm on Saturday.
Two men, aged 23 and 51, from New Tredegar and a man, 47, from Aberbargoed, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. They are currently in police custody.
