Crossbow Cannibal 'Slashes His Throat'
10:52am Saturday September 11, 2010
The self-proclaimed Crossbow Cannibal has been treated in prison after apparently slashing his throat with a shard of glass.
Stephen Griffiths was arrested in May and awaiting trial at Wakefield Prison
Stephen Griffiths, who is awaiting trial for allegedly murdering three prostitutes, was taken to the healthcare centre at Wakefield Prison after receiving "superficial wounds". A spokesman for the jail told Sky News staff intervened during the incident, which happened on Friday morning.
The Sun claimed the 40-year-old went berserk in his prison cell, smashed his TV and then dragged a jagged fragment of glass from the broken screen across his neck.
The tabloid said prison guards burst into his cell and overpowered him. Griffiths is charged with killing Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth. When the mature student was asked for his name during his first court appearance, he told Bradford magistrates: "The Crossbow Cannibal."
Ms Blamires, Ms Armitage and Ms Rushworth all disappeared in Bradford
The Prison Service said: "A prisoner at HMP Wakefield received superficial wounds after cutting himself with glass this morning. "He was treated in the healthcare centre of the prison after staff intervened." Griffiths is charged with murdering 36-year-old Ms Blamires between May 20 and May 25 this year. Body parts belonging to the woman were found in the River Aire, in Shipley, on May 25. Griffiths is also accused of killing Ms Rushworth, 43, between June 22, 2009, and May 25 this year and murdering 31-year-old Ms Armitage between April 25 and May 25 this year. Tests confirmed that a small piece of human tissue later found in the river belonged to Ms Armitage. Griffiths, a psychology graduate undertaking postgraduate research in criminology at Bradford University, was arrested on May 24 at his flat on the edge of Bradford's red-light district.
