Two charged over body find

Two people were charged tonight with the murder of Jeffrey Howe, whose body parts were found scattered across two counties in…

Two people were charged tonight with the murder of Jeffrey Howe, whose body parts were found scattered across two counties in England, said police.

Stephen Thomas Marshall (37), 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 will appear before Stevenage Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning, charged with his murder, said a Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman.

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 March 22nd when Mr Howe's left leg was found in a lay-by on the A507 in Cottered, Herts.

On March 29th, 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 April 1st, 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 April 7th before finally his torso was discovered by a walker near Standon in the same county on April 11th. Only his hands have not been found.

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

PA