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Jigsaw body: flatmates held
Jack Lefley24 Apr 2009
Tow people being questioned over the “jigsaw” murder of a businessman are the victim's flatmates, it emerged today.
The dismembered body of 49-year-old Jeffrey Howe was found scattered across two counties over the last month.
It emerged today that the couple arrested in connection with his death lived with him at his flat in Southgate.
Mr Howe, a salesman for furniture firm Kitchens Direct, shared the property with a 37-year-old colleague and the man's 20-year-old lover. He rented a room to the couple in the property in a quiet new-build development, where they were both arrested on Tuesday.
Mr Howe and the divorced workmate were at one time directors of a business called Speedy Designs, registered to the two-bedroom ground-floor flat.
The couple are being held at a police station in Hertfordshire on suspicion of murder. They appeared at Hatfield magistrates' court yesterday, where police were given extra time to question them.
Mr Howe's body parts have been found at a number of rural locations but his hands have still not been recovered.
An inquiry was launched last month after his left leg with the foot attached was found in a lay-by on the A507 in Cottered, Hertfordshire. Since then his head, torso, arms and right leg have been found at separate rural locations in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire.
Police issued a tribute from Mr Howe's brother, whom they did not name. It read: “Jeffrey was a jovial, charming character who had a heart of gold. Our family has been left extremely traumatised.” Mr Howe was unmarried and did not have children. A police officer guarded the flat in Pickard Close today where neighbours said they had not seen Mr Howe or his two Jaguar cars in months. One resident, Filipe Ferreira, 27, described the arrest of Mr Howe's colleague. He said: “I saw the van coming. He was arrested and just wearing trousers with the handcuffs. He was calm.”
There were reports today Mr Howe may have been missing since January.
