Jeffrey Howe's body parts were found dumped in two counties

A man has admitted dismembering a kitchen salesman and disposing of his body parts which were found dumped in Hertfordshire and Leicestershire.

But Stephen Marshall, 38, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, denied murdering 49-year-old Jeffrey Howe whose body parts were found last March.

Mr Marshall is standing trial at St Albans Crown Court.

Sarah Bush, 21, of Pickard Close, Southgate London, is also standing trial and denies murder.

She denied dismembering Mr Howe and disposing of his body parts.

The inquiry was launched following the discovery of Mr Howe's left leg in a lay-by in Cottered, Hertfordshire, on 22 March 2009.

Police later discovered his head, torso, right leg and arms at different rural spots.

Mr Marshall pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice by giving false information about the whereabouts of Mr Howe when police were conducting a missing person investigation and by dismembering his body and disposing of the parts in different places to impede the investigation.

He also pleaded guilty to intending to prevent a coroner from holding an inquest by disposing of the body in various locations across the two counties.

The trial is expected to last four weeks.