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Cut-up man was accused's 'buddy' | Cut-up man was accused's 'buddy' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A salesman whose body was dismembered had given the man accused of his murder a place to stay and the pair were "drinking buddies", a jury has heard. | A salesman whose body was dismembered had given the man accused of his murder a place to stay and the pair were "drinking buddies", a jury has heard. |
Pieces of Jeffrey Howe's cut-up 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 murder. | Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and Sarah Bush, 21, of Southgate, London, deny murder. |
The victim's ex-colleague, John Moody, told St Albans Crown Court Mr Howe had been trying to help out the pair. | |
He enjoyed people's company. He was a decent bloke John Moody, Mr Howe's former boss | He enjoyed people's company. He was a decent bloke John Moody, Mr Howe's former boss |
The pair are accused of murdering the 49-year-old in March 2009. | The pair are accused of murdering the 49-year-old in March 2009. |
Mr Moody said: "[Mr Howe] said he had offered Stephen Marshall a place to stay because he needed somewhere but he wasn't paying any rent and was eating him out of house and home. | Mr Moody said: "[Mr Howe] said he had offered Stephen Marshall a place to stay because he needed somewhere but he wasn't paying any rent and was eating him out of house and home. |
"He was feeling uncomfortable going home because they were always there. | "He was feeling uncomfortable going home because they were always there. |
"He didn't want to put food in the cupboard because he wasn't eating it, they were eating it." | "He didn't want to put food in the cupboard because he wasn't eating it, they were eating it." |
Mr Howe met Mr Marshall through work and the two had become "drinking buddies", the court was told. | Mr Howe met Mr Marshall through work and the two had become "drinking buddies", the court was told. |
'Very professional' | |
Mr Moody said: "He enjoyed people's company. He was a decent bloke. | Mr Moody said: "He enjoyed people's company. He was a decent bloke. |
"He was a very good salesman and very professional." | "He was a very good salesman and very professional." |
In the weeks leading up to his murder he was "not his usual happy self", he added. | In the weeks leading up to his murder he was "not his usual happy self", he added. |
The jury has heard Mr Howe was killed on 8 or 9 March in his flat in Southgate, north London. | |
Pc Stuart Tillotson told the jury how, on 16 March last year, he and a colleague, went to Mr Howe's flat at around 1130 GMT, in response to a missing person report. | |
He told jurors a light was on in the flat but there was no answer and so the pair decided to force entry. | |
'No blood' | |
He said after the door had been "kicked in" every room in the flat was checked. | |
Checking the rooms, he said there were no "visible traces of blood." | |
Jurors were told the oven appeared to be on and inside was a foil-wrapped meal. | |
Pc Tillotson said Mr Howe's passport was found on a coffee table, as well as other documents relating to Sarah Bush and Stephen Marshall. | |
Mr Howe's remains were discovered by members of the public in various locations, between 22 March and 11 April last year. | |
Previously the court has been told Mr Howe's body was cut up by someone who "understood human anatomy". | |
Impeded investigation | |
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. | 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. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |