This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/8491374.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Body parts killer jailed for life | Body parts killer jailed for life |
(41 minutes later) | |
A man who admitted murdering a kitchen salesman, dismembering his body and dumping it, has been jailed for life. | A man who admitted murdering a kitchen salesman, dismembering his body and dumping it, has been jailed for life. |
Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, must serve at least 36 years for killing Jeffrey Howe, 49. | Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, must serve at least 36 years for killing Jeffrey Howe, 49. |
St Albans Crown Court heard Marshall killed Mr Howe in London last March and scattered his body parts across Hertfordshire and Leicestershire. | |
Marshall's girlfriend Sarah Bush was jailed for three years and nine months for perverting the course of justice. | Marshall's girlfriend Sarah Bush was jailed for three years and nine months for perverting the course of justice. |
Marshall, who had originally denied murder, changed his plea at the end of the third week of his trial. | Marshall, who had originally denied murder, changed his plea at the end of the third week of his trial. |
Bush, 21, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice for her role in the disposal of some of Mr Howe's body parts and the subsequent cover up. | |
The charge of murder against her was withdrawn. | |
No mother should ever have to contemplate her son being treated in such an inhumane manner Statement by Jeffrey Howe's family | |
The court heard the flesh on Mr Howe's scalp and face was removed and his ears and tongue cut away. His hands have never been found. | The court heard the flesh on Mr Howe's scalp and face was removed and his ears and tongue cut away. His hands have never been found. |
He was murdered on 8 or 9 March in his flat in Southgate, north London, the jury was told. | |
The court heard Marshall had moved into Mr Howe's flat after the pair met through the murdered man's work as a kitchen salesman. | |
Marshall refused to leave the flat and planned to take over Mr Howe's identity after murdering him, jurors were told. | Marshall refused to leave the flat and planned to take over Mr Howe's identity after murdering him, jurors were told. |
Mr Justice Cooke told Marshall: "(Mr Howe) looked up to you and was scared of you and the evidence is you exploited that. | |
"You were well aware of what Stephen Marshall had done. | |
"You took advantage of Mr Howe in life and then after his death you used his money." | |
Jeffrey Howe's body parts were found dumped in two counties | |
The Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Denis Burke said it had been "an extremely gruesome case". | |
He added: "Both defendants saw Mr Howe's vulnerability and subsequent murder as an opportunity to seize his home, his possessions and his identity | |
"All this was carried out with unfaltering nerve and by Marshall in particular, with a disturbing level of expertise. | |
"He showed a frightening disregard for human life in his willingness to kill in return for a relatively small sum of money." | |
Mr Howe's family said in a statement they would remember him for his "larger than life personality and generosity". | |
They added: "We are still finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with Jeffrey's death and the macabre actions of those who killed him. | |
"No mother should ever have to contemplate her son being treated in such an inhumane manner. It is something which we will never be able to comprehend. | |
"We didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Jeff and that is one of our deepest regrets." |