REMORSELESS killer Richard Markham, who murdered his friend Tristian Lovelock, 25, formerly of Burbage, will never leave prison if a judge's recommendation is followed.

Markham, 28, a furniture dealer, dismembered the body of Mr Lovelock at his home in Basingstoke and scattered the remains around a housing estate in the Hampshire town.

Last Thursday he was jailed for life at Winchester Crown Court at the end of a two-and-a-half week trial.

Markham had denied murdering the father-of-two, claiming he had killed him with a hammer in self-defence.

In a moving and emotional statement after the trial, Mr Lovelock's mother, Ruth Halliday, said that at times it had seemed as if her son had been the one on trial, but he could not defend himself "because he is gone" she said.

She gave her statement flanked by his father Peter, sister Jodie, stepfather Robin Halliday, and stepmother Diane Lovelock.

Mrs Halliday said: "When Tristian's life was taken, so was ours in a way.

She added: "Nothing will ever be the same again. As we go through our days and when we go to sleep at night he is in our hearts and heads as we wonder 'what if' and 'if only'.

"He played such a big part in our lives. His children Charlie and Ella cannot understand where their daddy is. "They keep asking about him, but all that is left are his photos, his music, his poetry and memories to share with them."

She said they had now got to learn to live without their daddy. "We have to live without our son and Jodie without her brother.

"Tristian's humour was infectious and his family and friends meant the world to him," she said.

"All he wanted was for everyone to be happy and enjoy the moment."

She added: "He was the king of adventure and the master of fun."

Mrs Halliday said the family wanted to thank all those people including police officers on both sides of the Atlantic who had brought Markham to justice.

Mr Lovelock's parents both refuted the suggestion made in court that their son and Markham had been close friends.

His father Peter Lovelock said: "Close friends do not do that sort of thing to each other."

Tristian Lovelock was born in Basingstoke and went to local schools and college before taking up carpentry.

Six years ago when his parents separated he moved to Great Bedwyn with his mother for a while, but returned to live in Basingstoke.

He frequently visited Great Bedwyn and was popular in the Cross Keys pub.

Mr Markham showed no emotion when the jury, who were out for three- and-a-half hours, gave their verdict.

But Mr Lovelock's family applauded when the judge told Markham he would be jailed for life.

Mr Justice Michael Moreland told Markham that he would recommend to the Home Secretary that his sentence of life imprisonment should mean life.

The judge told Markham: "The killing of Tristian Lovelock was carried out in circumstances of the utmost barbarity I am entirely satisfied that you, Richard Markham, are a very dangerous individual."

Markham's lawyer Michael Bowes QC told the judge that Markham was likely to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act and transferred to a hospital from prison.

The court heard that the murder came to light when a member of the public was walking a dog in a park in the Southham area of the town.

Michael Parrow QC, prosecuting, said the dog was attracted to something hidden in vegetation.

He said: "The dog owner went back to look at what it was that the dog was so interested in and saw something that he came to realise was a human head.

"He called over a friend who was nearby and who also examined the head. He then dialled 999."

Police launched a murder hunt and other body parts were found in the park.Officers went to Markham's flat at 13 St Nicholas Court, Basingstoke, and found a torso with a First World War bayonet embedded in the back.

In the same blood-splattered room the police found a sword, a hacksaw, another saw and a knife. In a baking tin they found a partly cooked human arm.

By the time the gruesome discoveries were made, Markham had booked a flight to New York.

Details were circulated to American police but Markham had disappeared. He was traced after he was seen sitting on a park bench.

The court was told Markham and unemployed carpenter Mr Lovelock had been friends for eight years and were great drinking partners.

They often took part in mock fights with swords and other weapons. On the night of the murder they had been drinking together at the flat.

In court Markham alleged a row had erupted after Mr Lovelock had threatened him with a bayonet. He said he killed Mr Lovelock in self-defence by hitting him over the head with a hammer 15 times before dismembering the body.

In a statement Markham said he put some of the body parts in a plastic bag and decided to bury them in a nearby park.

His statement said: "Pieces kept falling out of the bag. I got to the park with the head in the bag and a leg under each arm.

"I realised there was no way I could realistically dispose of him."

Markham admitted dropping an arm which he threw into bushes.

The court also heard he left an answerphone message for a friend in which he said Tristian's dismembered body was lying on his floor.