ODD FLIGHT OF BODY PARTS SUSPECT

BBC On-Line ^ | 6/19/03 | BBC

[johniegrad]

A man allegedly fleeing to New York after chopping up his friend stood out on the flight because of his strange behaviour, a court has heard. A British Airways steward thought Richard Markham was drunk or afraid of flying, Winchester Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Mr Markham, 28, of Basingstoke, Hampshire, denies murdering drinking partner Tristian Lovelock on 31 May last year.

The jury had earlier heard that he hacked the 25-year-old father-of-two to pieces before baking his arm in an oven and scattering other body parts in nearby gardens and a park.

The accused asked for a "ticket to anywhere", jurors heard Mr Markham then caught a cab to Heathrow airport and tipped the driver £10, telling him he wanted to go abroad because he had split up with his girlfriend, the court heard.

Taxi driver Richard Ketteringham told the court: "He wanted to go to an airport to get out of the country for a couple of weeks but he wasn't sure where.

"I said Heathrow was probably the best airport to go to because of the frequency and destinations of the flights."

Mr Ketteringham said he suggested America as a good holiday destination to his passenger, who is alleged to have killed Mr Lovelock between around midnight and 0145 BST that day.

'No eye contact'

At Heathrow Mr Markham asked the British Airways ticket agent for a "ticket to anywhere".

All European flights were sold out, so Gerald Priese sold him a ticket to New York's JFK airport for £481 in cash.

British Airways steward Christopher Makris said he noticed Mr Markham as soon as he sat down because he looked nervous and he thought he might be scared of flying.

Mr Makris said: "I then noticed him several times during the flight.

"I couldn't make up my mind whether he was nervous of flying, under the influence of alcohol or just strange, but he was certainly odd."

Fellow passenger Peter Michau said: "He was sat very still and stared straight ahead.

"He never made eye contact with me the whole flight."

[johniegrad]

You know, all the passengers on these internation flights look so strange these days that I've completely given up trying to differentiate the necrophiliacs from the hermaphrodites from the dismembering murders. Anyone with any tips out there?

[MEG33]

Tis a puzzle.

[johniegrad]

Any advice?

[Cicero]

Sometimes the dismembering murderers have bulging pockets. And they tend to pay cash for their tickets, whereas terrorists use fraudulent credit cards.

[johniegrad]

Thank you.

[sd-joe]

LOL.

Look at the "balloons" over their heads telling you what they are thinking / dreaming about.

[ladyinred]

Tip: Don't fly.

[7 x 77]

Dismembering a body seems like hard work that creates its own kind of evidence (e.g., blood everywhere).

[r9etb]

Fellow passenger Peter Michau said: "He was sat very still and stared straight ahead. He never made eye contact with me the whole flight."

As if that's a bad thing....

I must confess that the most troublesome aspect is not the dismemberment per se, but arm-baking -- that's a bit off-kilter.

[MEG33]

Yes ,it does tend to put one off.

[harrowup]

Fly First. Every other passenger is either a Rock Star, Lawyer/Lobbyist or a Drug Dealer...and the occasional dead header.

[johniegrad]

[Ole Okie]

>>And they tend to pay cash for their tickets, whereas terrorists use fraudulent credit cards.
<<
Credit cards are strictly passe.

Nowadays terrorists use counterfeit 100 million dollar bills.

Making change is a real bitch for the airlines.

[NewRomeTacitus]

"...creates its own kind of evidence (e.g., blood everywhere)."
Knock, knock.
"Who is it?"
"Victor the Cleaner."
from Le Femme Nikita. Or you might try Harvey Keitel's approach in Pulp Fiction.

[EggsAckley]

I met Bo and John Derek in First Class. Very nice, and Conservative people.

[EggsAckley]

I met Bo and John Derek in First Class. Very nice, and Conservative people.

[EggsAckley]

I met Bo and John Derek in First Class. Very nice, and Conservative people.

[EggsAckley]

Oops, FR is rather draggy and slow tonight.

[NewRomeTacitus]

"...creates its own kind of evidence (e.g., blood everywhere)."
Knock, knock.
"Who is it?"
"Victor the Cleaner."
from Le Femme Nikita. Or you might try Harvey Keitel's approach in Pulp Fiction.
But we're talking about real-life fiends who wing it.

[r9etb]

I met Bo and John Derek in First Class. Very nice, and Conservative people.

And judging by the number of times you told us, you're apparently very proud of it.... ;-)

Now, if Bo were to describe you, I'm guessing she'd say you didn't make eye contact, either. Not with her eyes, at any rate.