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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cut-up man was accused's 'buddy' | Cut-up man was accused's 'buddy' |
| (about 3 hours 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-boss, 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' | '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. | 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 about 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. | 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' | 'No blood' |
| He said after the door had been "kicked in" every room in the flat was checked. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | Previously the court has been told Mr Howe's body was cut up by someone who "understood human anatomy". |
| She said (Mr Howe) hadn't collected the rent for a while...that he had taken all his property and insisted she didn't know where he was Statement by John Howe, the victim's brother | |
| Mr Howe usually phoned his mother several times a week, the court was told, and she and his adoptive brother grew concerned when he stopped calling. | |
| A statement made by John Howe and read out in court described how he had visited his brother's flat on 28 March and "a female with a towel around her head and underwear on underneath" had answered the door. | |
| "I'd never seen her before and was surprised to see her," he said. | |
| "She was short with me and I got the impression I was bothering her and she didn't want to speak to me. | |
| "She said [Mr Howe] hadn't collected the rent for a while... that he had taken all his property and insisted she didn't know where he was." | |
| Impeded investigation | 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 will continue on Monday morning. |