Man 'cut off, ate penis'

2004-05-06 11:41

Australia - A man standing trial for murder boasted to fellow prisoners he had cut off, cooked and eaten his victim's penis and leg, an Australian court heard on Thursday.

The accused man, David Loader, 43, told a fellow prisoner the meat tasted like chicken and told another he fed some of the flesh "to the dogs", the Northern Territory Supreme Court heard.

"(He said) that he hit the person on the head with a rock, cut off his leg, put it in the fire and cooked it," prisoner Daymon Hannila said.

"(Then he) cut off his (penis), put it in the fire and cooked it and it tasted like chicken."

Hannila said he thought Loader was joking.

Another prisoner, Marshall Kelly, said Loader told him, "I ate some of him and gave the rest to the dogs".

Kelly said he believed Loader's story and "stayed away from him" during the rest of his time in prison.

Loader has pleaded not guilty to murdering George Martin, 64, after a heavy drinking session at a campsite near the nothern Australian city of Darwin in July 2001.

Police allege Loader told them he "blanked out" and when he awoke he saw Martin lying face up in the fire.

Loader was arrested after police found human bones among ashes at the campsite.

- AFP