'Crossbow cannibal' appears in court to be charged with Bradford prostitute murders

A criminology student gave his name as "the crossbow cannibal" when he appeared in court today charged with the murders of three prostitutes.

• A security van takes Stephen Griffiths away from Bradford Magistrates' Court. Picture: PA

Former public schoolboy Stephen Griffiths, 40, is accused of killing Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who all went missing in Bradford.

Griffiths, who was wearing a black shirt and navy blue jeans, appeared at Bradford Magistrates' Court.

Asked to confirm his name he said: "The crossbow cannibal."

Asked for his address, Griffiths replied: "Erm ... here I guess."

Relatives of some of the victims were in court for the hearing. Some wiped away tears at the start of proceedings. Others stared intently at Griffiths, who stood to give his 'name'.

At other times he sat, fidgeting and touching his head, or staring silently at the floor.

Court clerk Miss Amarjit Soor read out the charges to Griffiths during the three-minute long hearing.

She said he was charged with murdering Ms Blamires between May 20 and May 25; murdering Ms Rushworth between June 22, 2009, and May 25 this year, and murdering Ms Armitage between April 25 and May 25 this year.

District Judge Mrs Susan Bouch remanded Griffiths in custody to appear at Bradford Crown Court this afternoon.

The defendant was flanked by three security guards in the glass-fronted dock. After he was led into the dock Griffiths put his hands together in a prayer-like gesture.

One man in the public gallery stood up as Griffiths was brought in and had to be told to sit down.

Dozens of journalists were in and outside for the hearing, along with detectives involved in one of West Yorkshire's biggest investigations in recent times.