A man accused of being a serial killer has appeared in Bradford magistrates court in West Yorkshire today charged with three counts of murder. 40-year-old Stephen Griffiths is accused of killing Suzanne Blamires, 36, Susan Rushworth, 43, and Shelley Armitage, 31, all prostitutes. Griffiths, a former van driver with a degree in psychology and studying for a PhD in criminology, gave his name as "Crossbow Cannibal" when asked. He has been in police custody since Monday when police were alerted to a CCTV recording that appeared to show a murder. On Tuesday, the day after the arrest of Griffiths, Blamires' remains were found in the River Aire in nearby Shipley . She had been cut into several pieces and her head was located in a rucksack. Police continue to search for the other two alleged victims; Rushworth has been missing since June last year and Armitage vanished in April. Police have searched much of Bradford's red-light district , where Griffiths' third-floor flat is located. Forensic investigations at the flat are expected to last around three weeks. There are plans to search landfill sites for bodies, and police may yet expand the inquiry to cover three more cold cases, although at present they have not been linked to the current inquiry. Griffiths was known as "the lizard man" in his block of flats owing to his habit of walking his two pet monitor lizards in the area. One neighbour is reported to have quoted him as saying he was studying for "a PhD in murder and Jack the Ripper ," and he has spent time in a high-security psychiatric hospital. During his five-minute court appearance he did not enter a plea, kept his head bowed and fidgeted with his cuffed hands. He said "Here, I guess," when asked for his address. Griffiths' morning court appearance was followed by a second one this afternoon, at Bradford Crown Court . This time, he confirmed his name without incident. He was remanded into custody until next month, when he will appear in court again. British media has been quick to compare the case to Peter Sutcliffe , dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper". Sutcliffe was a Bradford killer responsible for thirteen murders and seven attempted murders, including several prostitutes. Since his 1981 conviction he has spent most of the last three decades in Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital near London.
A man accused of being a serial killer has appeared in magistrates court in West Yorkshire today charged with three counts of murder. 40-year-old Stephen Griffiths is accused of killing Suzanne Blamires, 36, Susan Rushworth, 43, and Shelley Armitage, 31, all prostitutes. Griffiths, a former van driver with a degree in psychology and studying for a in criminology, gave his name as "Crossbow Cannibal" when asked. He has been in police custody since Monday when police were alerted to a recording that appeared to show a murder. On Tuesday, the day after the arrest of Griffiths, Blamires' remains were found in the in nearby . She had been cut into several pieces and her head was located in a rucksack. Police continue to search for the other two alleged victims; Rushworth has been missing since June last year and Armitage vanished in April. Police have searched much of Bradford's , where Griffiths' third-floor flat is located. Forensic investigations at the flat are expected to last around three weeks. There are plans to search landfill sites for bodies, and police may yet expand the inquiry to cover three more cold cases, although at present they have not been linked to the current inquiry. Griffiths was known as "the lizard man" in his block of flats owing to his habit of walking his two pet in the area. One neighbour is reported to have quoted him as saying he was studying for "a PhD in murder and ," and he has spent time in a high-security psychiatric hospital. During his five-minute court appearance he did not enter a plea, kept his head bowed and fidgeted with his cuffed hands. He said "Here, I guess," when asked for his address. Griffiths' morning court appearance was followed by a second one this afternoon, at Bradford . This time, he confirmed his name without incident. He was remanded into custody until next month, when he will appear in court again. British media has been quick to compare the case to , dubbed the "Yorkshire Ripper". Sutcliffe was a Bradford killer responsible for thirteen murders and seven attempted murders, including several prostitutes. Since his 1981 conviction he has spent most of the last three decades in high-security psychiatric hospital near London.
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Bradford
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PhD
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CCTV
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River Aire in nearby Shipley
in nearby
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red-light district
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monitor lizards
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Jack the Ripper
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Crown Court
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Peter Sutcliffe
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Broadmoor