'Crossbow cannibal' appears in court again

Stephen Shaun Griffiths, 40, sat with his arms crossed and head down for most of the 25-minute hearing yesterday at Bradford Crown Court.

Wearing a black shirt and black trousers, he spoke only to confirm his name.

He is accused of murdering sex workers Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, whose relatives sat only yards away from him across the court using the seats normally occupied by jurors.

They listened intently as the judge, Mr Justice Openshaw, discussed the progress of the case with prosecution and defence counsel before he adjourned it provisionally to another hearing at Leeds Crown Court on December 21.

There was no repeat of Griffiths's conduct during an earlier appearance before Bradford magistrates when, asked for his name, he replied "the crossbow cannibal".

Griffiths, of Holmfield Court, Thornton Road, Bradford, is accused of murdering Suzanne Blamires between May 21 and 25 this year, Shelley Armitage between April 25 and May 25 this year and Susan Rushworth between June 22 last year and May 25 this year.

The remains of Ms Blamires, 36, were found in the River Aire in Shipley while body tissue belonging to Ms Armitage, 31, was also found in the river. Funerals for both women were held in August. The body of Ms Rushworh, 43, has not been located. She was last seen in June last year.

Griffiths attended the private Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield before studying at Leeds and Bradford universities.