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| Body parts man died of stab wound | Body parts man died of stab wound |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man whose dismembered body was found in locations across Leicestershire and Hertfordshire died of a stab wound to the back, police have said. | A man whose dismembered body was found in locations across Leicestershire and Hertfordshire died of a stab wound to the back, police have said. |
| His head was found in a field in Leicestershire, while his torso, left forearm and legs were found in separate locations in Hertfordshire. | His head was found in a field in Leicestershire, while his torso, left forearm and legs were found in separate locations in Hertfordshire. |
| Det Ch Insp Michael Hanlon said it was one of the "most horrific" crimes he had ever dealt with. | Det Ch Insp Michael Hanlon said it was one of the "most horrific" crimes he had ever dealt with. |
| He was convinced the victim would be recognised from the police description. | He was convinced the victim would be recognised from the police description. |
| The man was aged between his mid-40s and early 60s and was of large build, weighing between 16 and 17 stone. | The man was aged between his mid-40s and early 60s and was of large build, weighing between 16 and 17 stone. |
| He had been killed with a large knife driven into his back, piercing his body cavity and causing a fatal wound. | He had been killed with a large knife driven into his back, piercing his body cavity and causing a fatal wound. |
| "It is a very exceptional crime, not just an exceptional crime in Hertfordshire, but the UK as a whole," said Det Ch Insp Hanlon. | "It is a very exceptional crime, not just an exceptional crime in Hertfordshire, but the UK as a whole," said Det Ch Insp Hanlon. |
| "Quite lengthy steps have been taken to prevent us identifying who the victim is," he said. | "Quite lengthy steps have been taken to prevent us identifying who the victim is," he said. |
| "It is certainly one of the most horrific cases I have dealt with just by the nature of it. | "It is certainly one of the most horrific cases I have dealt with just by the nature of it. |
| MAP OF BODY PART FINDS 1: 22 March: left leg found at Cottered2: 29 March: forearm found at Wheathampstead3: 31 March: head found at Asfordby4: 7 April: right leg found at Puckeridge5: 11 April: torso found at Gore Lane, Standon | MAP OF BODY PART FINDS 1: 22 March: left leg found at Cottered2: 29 March: forearm found at Wheathampstead3: 31 March: head found at Asfordby4: 7 April: right leg found at Puckeridge5: 11 April: torso found at Gore Lane, Standon |
| "Fortunately, it is extremely rare that we have to deal with such a crime where individuals have been dismembered. | "Fortunately, it is extremely rare that we have to deal with such a crime where individuals have been dismembered. |
| "I need the assistance of the public to help us identify who the victim is. | "I need the assistance of the public to help us identify who the victim is. |
| "Once I have that identity, that opens up a large number of lines to identify who the perpetrators are." | "Once I have that identity, that opens up a large number of lines to identify who the perpetrators are." |
| The torso was found in a green Gullivers suitcase of the same type as a holdall in which the left leg was found on 22 March. | The torso was found in a green Gullivers suitcase of the same type as a holdall in which the left leg was found on 22 March. |
| "We also know from examinations that have taken place that the victim suffered, in his younger life, a fracture to his lower left leg which occurred when he was aged between 10 and 25," Mr Hanlon said. | "We also know from examinations that have taken place that the victim suffered, in his younger life, a fracture to his lower left leg which occurred when he was aged between 10 and 25," Mr Hanlon said. |
| "The fracture was such that the man would have needed to have worn a cast at that stage. | "The fracture was such that the man would have needed to have worn a cast at that stage. |
| "I can also say the man did not have any tattoos or operational scars. | "I can also say the man did not have any tattoos or operational scars. |
| "Experts are working to recreate a clay reconstruction of the man's face in the hope that will assist our efforts to identify him. | "Experts are working to recreate a clay reconstruction of the man's face in the hope that will assist our efforts to identify him. |
| "We hope to show this later this week." | "We hope to show this later this week." |
| Mr Hanlon said he believed the victim was killed in the 48 hours before the first discovery of a body part on 22 March. | Mr Hanlon said he believed the victim was killed in the 48 hours before the first discovery of a body part on 22 March. |
| All the body parts were dumped at the same time. | All the body parts were dumped at the same time. |
| Mr Hanlon said no clothing has been recovered and his officers are concentrating on men who have gone missing in south east England. | Mr Hanlon said no clothing has been recovered and his officers are concentrating on men who have gone missing in south east England. |
| Trawling through CCTV | Trawling through CCTV |
| "We are making significant progress in this investigation. So far approximately 60 men on the missing persons database have been ruled out of the inquiry. | "We are making significant progress in this investigation. So far approximately 60 men on the missing persons database have been ruled out of the inquiry. |
| "We are also following a number of leads but because of operational reasons I am not prepared to go into specifics." | "We are also following a number of leads but because of operational reasons I am not prepared to go into specifics." |
| The detective said his colleagues are working through reports of vehicles seen at the deposition site and are trawling through CCTV footage. | The detective said his colleagues are working through reports of vehicles seen at the deposition site and are trawling through CCTV footage. |
| Speaking about the victim's missing hand, Mr Hanlon said: "Quite clearly, that may indicate that the offenders have removed the hands in the belief that they will easily assist in identifying who the victim is. | Speaking about the victim's missing hand, Mr Hanlon said: "Quite clearly, that may indicate that the offenders have removed the hands in the belief that they will easily assist in identifying who the victim is. |
| "That is speculation but it is quite an obvious speculation for us to make." | "That is speculation but it is quite an obvious speculation for us to make." |
| Tests to establish what was used to chop up the man's body and to reveal more details of the murder weapon continue, police said. | Tests to establish what was used to chop up the man's body and to reveal more details of the murder weapon continue, police said. |
| Mr Hanlon said it was "strange" that more effort had not been made to conceal the body parts. | Mr Hanlon said it was "strange" that more effort had not been made to conceal the body parts. |
| He appealed to any friend, associate, relative of the man or a member of the public with information to make contact. | He appealed to any friend, associate, relative of the man or a member of the public with information to make contact. |
| Mr Hanlon said the location of the body parts suggested that the murderer or victim have links to Hertfordshire. | Mr Hanlon said the location of the body parts suggested that the murderer or victim have links to Hertfordshire. |
| He said geographical profilers and behavioural experts have been brought in to try to learn more about the attacker. | |
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| Crime-mapping experts and behavioural psychologists have been drafted in | Crime-mapping experts and behavioural psychologists have been drafted in |