SKULL found buried in Sir David Attenborough’s garden belonged to the victim of a gruesome murder

SKULL found buried in Sir David Attenborough’s garden belonged to the victim of a gruesome murder, a coroner ruled yesterday.

It was dug up in October when the broadcaster, 85, was having an old pub excavated at his home in Richmond, South West London.

Julia Martha Thomas was killed aged 55 in 1879 by her maid. Kate Webster pushed her down stairs, strangled her then chopped her up.

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She then boiled the remains, dumped the flesh in the Thames and gave the dripping to children to eat.

Webster stole Mrs Thomas’s identity – and false teeth – and fled to Ireland. She was later arrested and hanged.

West London coroner Alison Thompson said: “There is clear evidence this is Julia Martha Thomas.”

She recorded the cause of death as ­strangulation and from a head injury.

Now the skull will finally be given a proper burial.

Verdict: unlawful killing.