THE father of a plasterer whose dismembered body was found floating in a Norfolk lake says he cannot bring himself to hate his son's killer.

Eddie Simmons was sentenced to life imprisonment last week after being convicted of murdering school pal Alexander Brown.

Mr Brown's remains were discovered in Pentney Lakes, Norfolk, in March five months after he disappeared from the nearby village of Swaffham.

Now Mr Brown's father, Fred Taylor, is saying although he imagines his 36-year-old son suffered greatly, he does not hate Simmons.

He said: "There are no winners here. We've lost a son and the Simmons family in their way have also lost a son.

"But I can feel no hatred towards Eddie. I'm not prepared to waste my life or to become bitter. Alex wouldn't have wanted that."

Mr Taylor says the family's biggest concern now is laying Mr Brown, of Rectory Road, Beckenham, to rest.

But as the authorities have to wait at least 28 days to allow Simmons, 34, the right to appeal, they cannot release the remains.

At Norwich Crown Court on November 11 the judge, Sir John Blofeld, recommended Simmons serve at least 18 years after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict in 90 minutes.

Mr Brown's family wept on hearing the verdict, with Mr Taylor paying tribute to his "easy-going" son whose name he says was "blackened in court".

Simmons had claimed he killed Mr Brown in self-defence following a violent struggle but the plasterer's body showed no signs of him having put up a fight.

It was also claimed Mr Brown was a "mad dog" and he shaved his head to look "menacing".

Mr Taylor, 57, from St Paul's Cray said: "That really sickened me. Alex was bald on top by the time he was 25. He couldn't help his appearance.

"He wasn't a violent person. He wasn't jealous or judgmental but genuinely kind."

Mr Brown had battled a cocaine habit and alcohol addiction but had turned his life around and talked about having children with his girlfriend of four years, Tracey Meakin.

Mr Taylor, who is a security manager, said: "The last time I saw Alex, he was so bright and bubbly. Things had changed for him and he exuded happiness."

The father-of-four knows many questions about what happened will always be unanswered.

He said: "We can't imagine how Alex died. The pathologist was unable to explain what killed him.

"We don't know if he suffered pain or anguish, we can only hope he didn't."

Killer used saw to cut up body

l Continued from page 1 AS THE grisly details of Alexander Brown's murder unfolded, his family heard for the first time how their loved-one had died.

During the three-week murder trial, it was revealed how the plasterer suffered heavy blows to his head and stab wounds to his body.

His testicles had been removed, his body sawed into six pieces, wrapped in bin liners and dumped in Pentney Lakes, Norfolk.

The 36-year-old's naked torso was found floating in a lake by a water-ski company employee who thought it was a piece of polystyrene.

Mr Brown vanished in October last year after a night's drinking with Simmons, whom he used to attend Langley Park School with.

In December, police went to arrest Simmons, of Woodlea Drive, Bromley, at his parents' holiday bungalow in Southlands, Swaffham, He was arrested on suspicion of abducting Mr Brown.

They later arrested his parents, Carole, 59 and Robert 58, also of Woodlea Drive, Bromley, when they saw new carpets fitted and the lounge and hallway completely redecorated at the bungalow.

They were charged with assisting an offender by impeding his apprehension but were later cleared by Judge Blofeld, who said there was no evidence to suggest they knew about the murder.

Simmons denied murder, claiming he killed Mr Brown in self-defence.

He said he awoke in the bungalow, naked and covered in blood, believing he had been raped or assaulted with a knife.

Simmons said Mr Brown was in the room with the knife in his hand.

The freelance filmmaker said Mr Brown lunged at him and it was a fight to the death, telling police "it was him or me".

At first, Simmons buried the body in the garden but dug it up and severed Mr Brown's limbs and head, first with a hacksaw and then a chainsaw.

He said: "I was gagging all the time. I just made sure I got a straight line, trying not to look at what I was doing."

The motive for the attack was an alleged rape on Simmons' American ex-girlfriend but Mr Brown's friends and mother say both adults consented to sex.

Prosecutor Patricia Lynch said Simmons' lies had been poor despite having time to think of the perfect defence.