Gay UK 'cannibal' trial hears from ex-lovers

The trial of the first winner of Mr Gay UK, who is accused of stabbing a man to death before eating him, has heard from two ex-lovers.

Anthony Morley, who is from Leeds, denies murdering Damian Oldfield in April this year.

A jury at the city's Crown Court has been told six pieces of cooked human flesh were found on a chopping board at 36-year-old Mr Morley's flat.

The prosecution alleges the two men had some kind of sexual relationship and engaged in sexual activity before the murder took place. Morley then cut Mr Oldfield's throat and stabbed him several times, the court heard.

Shaun Wood, who was in a relationship with Morley for around six years, told the court the chef once attacked him after a disagreement about money.

Mr Wood said: "He went to the kitchen and came back and sat down on the settee and five minutes later he leapt up and went for me with a meat cleaver but fortunately he fell backwards so it didn't get me, otherwise it would have done."

Mr Wood continued: "I was obviously very scared but immediately afterwards he went upstairs to his bedroom and started smashing the bedroom up, shouting 'I'm psychotic, I'm mad, get me a doctor'."

Under cross-examination, Mr Wood said he had "never, ever" seen Morley behave in that way before and described him as a caring person.

Another former boyfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Morley could be violent and once attacked him in the street.

The prosecution said Morley was at least guilty of manslaughter but said the issue in the trial would be over provocation or abnormality of the mind.

The trial continues.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.