Kurt Gwisser came to the UK from Austria as a boy and forged firm friendships within his Yorkshire community – only to be killed by a vicious racist neighbour who cruelly taunted his victim’s daughter
The daughter of a man who was brutally murdered by his neighbour has revealed she was racially abused by his killer at the trial.
Kurt Giwisser, 77, was murdered by his neighbour David Hill in an unprovoked and vicious attack, which followed months of aggressive behaviour by Hill.
Hill, 57, was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court last December. In February, he appeared again before a court for racially abusing and harassing Kurt’s daughter, Karen, at the trial and was jailed for 26 weeks.
Karen says her father hoped for ‘peace and quiet’ when he retired to his bungalow in the Huddersfield hills. But Hill, his next-door neighbour, was a constant nuisance, drinking heavily and shouting verbal abuse at Kurt and other residents.
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In February 2023, Hill launched a brutal attack on Kurt, who was in his dressing gown, in his own home, and completely defenceless. The assault eventually proved fatal.
Karen, 56, from Huddersfield, says: “Dad was larger than life, everyone knew him. He’d take people shopping, he taught them how to play guitar. He loved helping out.
“Hill was a nuisance neighbour and there had been complaints about him to the council. Dad tried to avoid him; he would say he just wanted a peaceful life.
“Even at 77, Dad was fit and healthy, he walked a lot. He had so many good years left. After he died, I was clearing out his house and Hill came to the window to film me. He had murdered our father and yet he thought that was acceptable behaviour.
“At the murder trial, he called me a ‘Nazi’ before we went into court. He has shattered our family. There are no words for what I think of him.”
Kurt moved from Austria to Huddersfield aged 12, with his family.
Karen says: “He hated it at first, he spoke no English and knew nobody. But he made friends quickly and was soon speaking with a broad Yorkshire accent!”
Kurt later married and had two daughters, Karen and Amanda.
Karen says: “Dad was a hard worker; he was a joiner then an engineer. He was creative, he enjoyed drawing and he loved music. He played the electric guitar every Sunday. It used to drive me mad, but now I would give anything to hear him one last time.
“He was a brilliant dad; very family orientated. I remember him buying me ‘Careless Whisper’ when it was released and I was over the moon.”
After retiring, Kurt moved to a bungalow on a quiet street high above Huddersfield.
Karen says: “He had a shared front garden, and he loved to sit and look out over the town. He’d walk into town every day to meet his friends for a coffee and a chat. He was teaching someone to play the guitar, he took people shopping if they asked. He had holidays all over the world. He loved to ski. He was very active. “Everyone knew him because of his trademark moustache and he was so well-loved. He was a true gentleman.”
Though most of the residents were older people, Kurt’s next-door neighbour, David Hill, was 20 years younger.
Karen says: “Hill was a problem in their small community. He was a heavy drinker and swore at people going past. He’d stare at Dad and bang on his windows. He had a little dog which he didn’t look after very well. Dad used to buy dog treats and make a fuss of it which annoyed Hill.
“Dad did everything he could do diffuse confrontation. He kept his curtains closed and he tried to avoid Hill. He’d tell us he just wanted to live in peace. After his death, I found heartbreaking notes where he’d written: ‘I want a peaceful life.’
“We thought Hill was a nuisance, but nothing more than that. Maybe Dad was more afraid than he let on. He was strong and proud and wouldn’t have liked to admit he was scared. He made a complaint about Hill’s behaviour to the council, and this was possibly what sparked the attack. But Hill was also angry that Dad was feeding his dog.”
Early one morning in February 2023, Kurt, still in his dressing gown, answered the door to Hill. Without speaking, Hill punched and kicked Kurt to the ground. Though badly injured, Kurt managed to call for help.
Karen says: “Dad was treated in hospital and discharged a few days later. But he began suffering seizures which became much worse. He wasn’t himself. He couldn’t drive and he couldn’t play his guitar, which broke all our hearts.
“He was back and forth from hospital, trying to get the seizures under control.”
In April 2023, Kurt underwent emergency surgery on his brain to drain a build-up of fluid. But afterwards, he went into a coma and never regained consciousness. He died April 23 2023, aged 77.
Karen says: “As a family we are devastated. We thought he would come through it, we had no idea his life was in danger. We never got to say goodbye because Dad never woke up again. We were not allowed to see his body because it became evidence. His brain was taken for analysis, and it was horrible thinking that he was not whole.”
Hill, on bail for the assault, was now under investigation for murder.
Karen says: “After Dad died, we cleared out his house and Hill filmed us through the window. Even then, he could not leave Dad alone. We found little notes Dad had written, saying he wanted to live in peace and wished Hill would leave him alone.”
Investigators were eventually able to prove a link between the attack and Kurt’s death. Hill was jailed for 17 years at Leeds Crown Court in December, after a jury found him guilty of murder.
Karen says: “We were pleased to get the murder conviction, I know Dad would be proud of us. And yet it felt like a hollow victory. Nothing will bring him back.
“It was said in court that Hill had leant Dad a paintbrush which just wasn’t true. Dad had his own meticulously kept set of tools and would not have borrowed anything from Hill. I think that’s something Hill came up with when he was drunk after the attack.
“Hill was a bully; Dad was much older than him and could not fight back. So he took his rage out on him. I am glad he is off the streets, but nothing will ease our pain.”
