MEXICO: Mexican writer accused of eating his girlfriend says he's not a cannibal

Mexican writer accused of eating his girlfriend says he's not a cannibal. A Mexican writer suspected of strangling, dismembering, frying and eating pieces of his ex-girlfriend has confessed to murdering the woman. But his defense lawyer said he denied being a cannibal. Jose Luis Calva made his first public appearance in court on Thursday (October 26). When police burst into his Mexico City apartment two weeks ago they found fried human flesh on a dining table set with cutlery. They found more flesh in the refrigerator and an unfinished book by Calva called "Cannibal Instincts." The mutilated body of 32-year-old Alejandra Galeana was in the bedroom closet. Calva was kept behind bars during the court hearing and only spoke to his defense lawyer, Humberto Guerrero Plata. He also declined to make a preliminary statement. Legal Expert Rodolfo Rojo said he was told Calva had been checked by psychologists and was ready to make a statement. Calva had been hospitalised after being hurt when trying to escape policemen. A week ago, Calva told prosecutors he killed Galeana after an argument, then cut an arm and a leg off her body so that he could dispense of it in parts and feed it to dogs. Prosecutors also suspect Calva of strangling and dismembering two other women in the last two years. One victim, Veronica Martinez, had lived with Calva before her death. Calva denied any involvement in those crimes. Galeana's mother had reported her missing for two weeks and said she suspected her daughter's former lover was involved. Calva kept books on black magic and apparently made a living selling his writings on the street. He was injured falling from his balcony when he tried to escape police as they forced their way into his apartment. Police found copies of the Hannibal Lecter films, which tell the tale of a genius serial killer who eats his victims.

ITN Source | October 26, 2007

Tags:. .hearing. .dogs. .behind. .hes. .cut