by David P. Greisman

The man accused of killing retired British boxer Shawn Cummins and then dismembering his body has been convicted of murder, according to BBC News.

Thomas Dunkley, 29, “was sentenced to life in prison … and ordered to serve a minimum term of 34 years,” the report said.

The body of Cummins, who mostly fought between junior middleweight and middleweight, was found last September in his home in England, according to a Leicester Mercury report at the time.

Cummins was 44. He had been retired since 1995 after losing a bid for the British Boxing Board of Control’s middleweight title, ending his career with a record of 22-6-1 with 14 knockouts.

The Mercury article said Cummins had been paralyzed in an accident in 2004. He was last seen alive on Sept. 1. Cummins’ body parts were found in freezers.

Dunkley apparently was an acquaintance who helped care for Cummins.

David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter @fightingwords2 or send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com