Two appear in court over body parts murder

A 37-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were this morning remanded in custody over the murder of Jeffrey Howe, whose body parts were found scattered across two counties, said police.

Stephen Thomas Marshall, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, and Sarah Bush, 20, of north London, were arrested earlier this week over the death of Mr Howe, 49, whose dismembered remains were discovered at various locations in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire.

The pair appeared before Stevenage Magistrates' Court this morning, charged with his murder, said a Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman. There was no application for bail. They are next due to appear before a judge at St Albans Crown Court on Friday, May 1.

Marshall, of Ayot Path, Borehamwood, and Bush, of Pickard Close, Southgate, have been questioned by detectives since Tuesday about the killing.

Denis Burke, reviewing lawyer for Crown Prosecution Service Thames Valley Complex Casework Unit, said: "I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge Stephen Marshall and Sarah Bush with the murder of Jeffrey Howe, following a thorough investigation conducted by Hertfordshire Police."

Scores of officers from the Bedfordshire and Herts Major Crime Unit and Leicestershire Police have been chasing leads since 22 March when Mr Howe's left leg was found in a lay-by on the A507 in Cottered, Herts.

On 29 March, his arm, dismembered at the elbow and wrist, was discovered on a grass verge in Wheathampstead, about a 40-minute drive from Cottered.

And then on 1 April, a farmer found the murder victim's head in a field in Asfordby, Leicestershire, about 95 miles from Wheathampstead via the M1 and A606.

His right leg was found near the A10 Puckeridge bypass in Herts by a driver on 7 April before finally his torso was discovered by a walker near Standon in the same county on 11 April. Only his hands have not been found.

Police said Mr Howe was from Southgate. He was not married and did not have any children.

Earlier today, police issued a tribute from his brother, whom they did not name.

It read: "Jeffrey was an extremely caring son. He was a jovial, charming character who had a heart of gold and would get on with anyone.

"He could be a little selfish sometimes but did what he thought was best."

Mr Howe, a salesman for a kitchen firm, was a life-long Manchester United fan.

He had lived in various locations across the UK and had worked in Italy as a cook, police said.