The funeral of one of the alleged murder victims of self-proclaimed “Crossbow Cannibal” Stephen Griffiths was being held today.

Family and friends of Shelley-Marie Armitage, 31, were holding a Requiem Mass at St Francis Catholic Church in Norman Lane, Eccleshill, Bradford, followed by cremation at Rawdon.

Miss Armitage, of Allerton, Bradford, leaves her parents Daryl and Gill, sister Gemma and brother Carl, partner Craig, nephew Aaron and niece Pasha-Mai.

Her family has asked for any donations to be made to the Make A Wish Foundation.

Griffiths, 40, a mature student, of Holmfield Court, Thortnon Road, has been charged with her murder as well as the murders of Suzanne Blamires, aged 36, and Susan Rushworth, 43.

On his first court appearance, when asked to confirm his name, he replied: “The Crossbow Cannibal”. He is next due to appear before Bradford Crown Court on October 15.

Provisional plans are in place for the funeral of Miss Blamires, of Allerton, next week.

An inquest into the deaths of all three women has been opened and adjourned pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings. No trace of Miss Rushworth, of Manningham, has so far been found since her disappearance in June last year.