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Cut-up salesman 'fatally stabbed' Anatomy skill used to cut up man
(about 3 hours later)
A salesman whose body parts were dumped across two counties was killed by a stab wound to the chest, a jury heard. A salesman whose body parts were dumped across two counties was cut up by someone who "understood human anatomy", St Albans Crown Court has been told.
Pieces of Jeffrey Howe's body were found in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire last March and April.Pieces of Jeffrey Howe's body were found in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire last March and April.
Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and Sarah Bush, 21, of Southgate, London, deny murdering 49-year-old Mr Howe last March. Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and Sarah Bush, 21, of Southgate, London, deny murdering 49-year-old Mr Howe in March 2009.
Home Office pathologist Simon Poole told St Albans Crown Court his limbs were "skilfully" and "cleanly" removed. Professor Susan Black said whoever cut him up showed "attention to detail".
Giving evidence, Mr Poole said kitchen salesman Mr Howe was stabbed in the back. Removing certain body parts would have been "exceptionally difficult" for anyone without expertise, the forensic anthropologist said.
Slow death 'Skill shown'
He would probably have taken a while to die after being stabbed, Mr Poole said. Prof Black, an expert on the examination of human remains, carried out one of the post-mortem examinations of Mr Howe's body.
"I wouldn't anticipate death would have been instantaneous," he said. Giving evidence, she told that the skill displayed during the dismemberment was unlikely to have been acquired without practice.
Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, asked the pathologist about his examination of a left leg found by a member of the public in Cottered, north Hertfordshire last March. Asked about the way one of Mr Howe's legs was cut off, she said: "If one of my students had removed a leg in this way I would have been very pleased with them because it would have shown they understood human anatomy."
Mr Poole said: "It appeared to have been done very skilfully. It was detached very cleanly." Marks found on Mr Howe's neck were likely to have been caused by a large and heavy kitchen knife or a cleaver, she told the court.
The pathologist told the jury the limb had been separated from the body at the hip area. Earlier, Home Office pathologist Simon Poole said kitchen salesman Mr Howe had been stabbed in the back.
Even if performed skilfully there would still be a large amount of blood loss Simon PooleHome Office pathologist The jury has heard that Mr Howe was killed on 8 or 9 March in his flat in Southgate, north London.
He said he later examined a left forearm that had been found at Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire. The hand was missing.
Mr Poole said he found that the limb had been separated at the wrist joint and at the elbow joint.
Previously the jury was told Mr Howe was murdered on 8 or 9 March in his flat in Southgate, north London.
On Tuesday, Mr Marshall admitted dismembering Mr Howe and disposing of his body parts.On Tuesday, Mr Marshall admitted dismembering Mr Howe and disposing of his body parts.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice.He also pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice.
The first involved giving false information about the whereabouts of Mr Howe when police were conducting a missing person investigation.
Surgical toolsSurgical tools
The first involved giving false information about the whereabouts of Mr Howe when police were conducting a missing person investigation.
Secondly, he admitted dismembering the victim's body and disposing of the parts in different places to impede the investigation.Secondly, he admitted dismembering the victim's body and disposing of the parts in different places to impede the investigation.
Ms Bush denies dismembering Mr Howe and disposing of his body parts.Ms Bush denies dismembering Mr Howe and disposing of his body parts.
Mr Howe's remains were discovered by members of the public in various locations between 22 March and 11 April last year.Mr Howe's remains were discovered by members of the public in various locations between 22 March and 11 April last year.
The court heard that it would have taken at least 12 hours to cut the body up and would have been a messy process. Mr Howe's torso, which was found in a green suitcase in a drainage ditch at Colliers End, Hertfordshire, on 11 April, bore marks that suggested an animal or insects had reached it, Mr Poole said.
Mr Poole said: "Even if performed skilfully there would still be a large amount of blood loss."
Surgical tools would have been needed, he added.
Mr Howe's torso, which was found in a green suitcase in a drainage ditch at Colliers End, Hertfordshire, on 11 April last year, bore marks that suggested an animal or insects had reached it, he said.
Other marks on the torso suggested it had started to decompose, he added.Other marks on the torso suggested it had started to decompose, he added.
The trial continues. The trial was adjourned to Friday morning.