Stephen Griffiths trial: Can you give the court your name? The crossbow cannibal. Your address? Erm… here, I guess

• A court artist's impression of Stephen Griffiths, 40, a postgraduate at Bradford University, who was charged with the murders of three women working as prostitutes. Drawing: Elizabeth Cook/PA

The former public schoolboy made two appearances – before magistrates and then a crown court judge – accused of killing Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth, who all went missing in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

When he was asked for his name at Bradford Magistrates' Court, Griffiths, 40, replied: "The crossbow cannibal."

Asked for his address, Griffiths, who was wearing a black shirt and navy blue jeans, replied: "Erm… here I guess."

Relatives of some of the victims were in court for this hearing. Some wiped away tears at the start of proceedings. Others stared intently at Griffiths, who sat fidgeting and touching his head, or staring silently at the floor.

Four hours later, Griffiths made his second appearance of the day at Bradford Crown Court. This time he spoke only to confirm his full name.

As he was driven away from the crown court in a van, a crowd which had gathered outside the building shouted abuse at the vehicle.

Griffiths is charged with murdering Ms Blamires, 36, between 20 May and 25 May this year; murdering Ms Rushworth between 22 June, 2009, and 25 May this year, and murdering Ms Armitage between 25 April and 25 May this year.

Police said yesterday that the remains of Ms Blamires were found on Tuesday afternoon in water a few yards from where the busy Otley Road crosses the River Aire in Shipley.

Ms Blamires was last seen on Friday, while Ms Armitage, 31, has been missing since Monday 26 April and Ms Rushworth, 43, disappeared on 22 June last year.

Griffiths, a psychology graduate undertaking postgraduate research in criminology at Bradford University, was arrested on Monday at his home on the edge of Bradford's red-light district.

He lived in a flat in Thornton Road, a few hundred yards from the courts he appeared in yesterday. Griffiths lived in the flats for about 13 years. He attended the private Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield in his teens.

The defendant sat for most of the second five-minute hearing behind the glass front of the dock with his hands clasped together and his head bowed.

He showed no emotion as about 18 members of his alleged victims' families strained to see him through a glass barrier along the public gallery.

Griffiths spoke only once as he sat in the dock in court. He was flanked by three security officers.

Asked by the clerk: "Are you Stephen Shaun Griffiths?", he replied: "I am."

At the end of Griffiths's crown court appearance, he was remanded in custody. There was no application for bail.

Griffiths will appear before Bradford Crown Court again on 7 June via video link from Wakefield Prison.

Yesterday, a huge police operation was continuing to search for the bodies of Ms Armitage and Ms Rushworth.

Officers are convinced the body parts found earlier this week in the River Aire, at Shipley, all belong to Suzanne Blamires. But, as yet, there is no trace of the bodies of Susan Rushworth and Shelley Armitage.

Dozens of police teams were at work at a range of locations across Bradford.

A lorry with a digging arm was brought into to help with an excavation in Thornton Road.

Numerous searches were continuing across the city, using police, forensic officers and specially trained dogs.

Much of the activity is focused on the red light district.

Many alleyways and streets in the Sunbridge Road area remained sealed off as police officers conducted fingertip searches.

Dogs which are specially trained to find bodies were being used in a number of locations and officers have been seen taking away a large number of objects in plastic bags.

Senior officers are adamant they are not linking the murders of Ms Blamires, Ms Armitage and Ms Rushworth to any other missing persons and murder inquiries.