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 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Body parts killer jailed for life | Body parts killer jailed for life |
| (19 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. | 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. | 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| The charge of murder against her was withdrawn. | The charge of murder against her was withdrawn. |
| 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. |
| No mother should ever have to contemplate her son being treated in such an inhumane manner Statement by Jeffrey Howe's family | |
| He was murdered on 8 or 9 March in his flat in Southgate, north London, the jury was told. | 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. | 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. |
| Prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said Marshall and Ms Bush paid no rent to Mr Howe and stole his food. | |
| After his death, the couple began to use his bank account, Mr Trimmer said. | |
| One witness told the court that Marshall had previously boasted of his ability to butcher a human corpse. | |
| She said he told her he had cut up bodies for a criminal family in London, disposing of them in plastic bags which he buried. | |
| Mr Justice Cooke told Marshall: "(Mr Howe) looked up to you and was scared of you and the evidence is you exploited that. | Mr Justice Cooke told Marshall: "(Mr Howe) looked up to you and was scared of you and the evidence is you exploited that. |
| "You took advantage of Mr Howe in life and then after his death you used his money." | "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 | 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". | 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. | "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." | "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". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "We didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Jeff and that is one of our deepest regrets." |