Dismembered body found on estate

Police say Richard Markham is 'very dangerous'

The dismembered body of a man whose head was discovered in a park has been found strewn across an estate, police said.

Detectives said on Saturday they wanted to talk to 27-year-old Richard Markham, who they warned was "very dangerous" and should not be approached.

The victim was named as 25-year-old Tristian Lovelock, who was last seen alive at 2000 BST on Thursday.

He had been drinking with Mr Markham and other people at a friend's house in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Human remains

The murder hunt started on Friday afternoon, when a dog-walker found Mr Lovelock's head in the Russell Howard Park, in the South Ham area of Basingstoke.

Police later entered a house at nearby St Nicholas Court and found some human remains.

The body was found throughout the estate

Superintendent John James

Superintendent John James, who is leading the investigation, said the crime scene extended from where the head was found through a small part of the estate and up to and including the house.

"The body was found throughout the estate," he said.

"The house itself, that general scene contains a dismembered body.

'Very dangerous'

"We are still searching both these in order to assess the completeness of the body."

Mr James said he believed Mr Markham was the sole occupant of the house and was working in the area in a factory.

He said: "At this time our assessment of Richard Markham is it's reasonable for us to say and warn the public that in our view he could be considered very dangerous and the public are encouraged not to approach him under any circumstances.

"Clearly given time from the event itself and the find of yesterday he could have travelled a considerable distance."

The cause of Mr Lovelock's death was not yet known.

Drinking with friends

A Home Office pathologist would be performing a post mortem examination at a local hospital later on Saturday.

Mr Lovelock had been living with family members in the Basingstoke and Wiltshire areas over the last few months, he said.

Mr James said he believed Mr Markham had known Mr Lovelock for a few years, and that he had connections with the York area.

Public help

Mr James said of Mr Markham and Mr Lovelock: "They were last seen together leaving another premises in Basingstoke having been with friends drinking.

"They were known to each other, but I cannot say if they were friends.

"I'm still trying to establish the relationship between them."

He added that the crucial period over which he needed the public's help in establishing the pair's movements was from 2000 BST on Thursday to lunchtime Friday.