Canal body parts—man convicted

THE man responsible for cutting-up a man's body, cramming it in a suitcase and dumping it in a Birmingham Canal has been convicted of murder.

After a trial lasting five weeks, Lorenzo Simon, 34, was convicted of murder at Birmingham Crown Court, but co-defendant Michelle Bird, 35, was cleared of the same charge though she had previously admitted assisting an offender, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Icknield Port

The suitcase containing the body of Michael Spalding was discovered in the water at Icknield Port in May last year by a narrowboat owner near Pope Bridge, who contacted Canal & River Trust contractors working nearby, who discovered the body parts.

The police believe Michael Spalding had been killed 16 days before the suitcase containing his body parts was found, with a hacksaw and other body parts being discovered in a second suitcase.

Stab wound

It is understood the murder was the result of an argument over a car accident, but the post-mortem examination was unable to confirm the cause of death, but police officers stated they suspected Michael Spalding had died from a stab wound to the neck, though evidence was destroyed when the body was beheaded.

The murdered man had been staying with Lorenzo Simon, helping to renovate a flat, but an argument over damage caused to Lorenzo Simon's car, led to the attack.

Scanning technology

It was work by the University of Warwick 3D scanning technology that revealed a perfect fit between a bone and a severed limb discovered in one of the suitcases, as well as links between the hacksaw and marks found on other bones, that proved the body was that of Michael Spalding.

The pair are due to be sentenced this week.