Axeman to be questioned over torso murders

Detectives want to interview a sadistic axeman over the unsolved torso murders of two women and the disappearance of two others after his conviction on arms offences at the Old Bailey in England today.

John Sweeney is already waiting sentence for trying to kill his former lover.

He was convicted last year of repeatedly slashing Delia Balmer with an axe and knife after she threw him out in 1994.

Today he was convicted of possessing two sawn-off shotguns and a pistol with intent to endanger life - especially those of police officers - which he kept while on the run for the attempted murder of Miss Balmer.

Sweeney was remanded in custody until March 5 when he will be sentenced for all the offences.

Sweeney, 45, shouted abuse at the judge and had to be bungled down the dock steps to cells after today’s conviction.

‘‘I did not expect anything else. This is a f***ing kangaroo court,’’ he shouted.

He has previous convictions for ferocious attacks on former girlfriends, and is suspected of avenging himself on women when they rejected him.

Two South American ex-girlfriends from the late 90s have disappeared, although there is no evidence that any harm has come to them and no-one has reported them missing.

Detectives are trying to trace the Brazilian, Leani and Columbian, Maria, through their consulates, but only have the women’s first names.

Police are also appealing for them or anyone who knows them to come forward,

After brutally attacking his then girlfriend, Miss Balmer in 1994, Sweeney went on the run.

He was not arrested until March last year while working on a building site in London.

Officers found Sweeney was in possession of an arsenal of weapons which he intended to use to avoid capture.

‘‘He dreaded his past catching up with him,’’ Sarah Forshaw, prosecuting told the court.

Sweeney wrote a poem which stated: ‘‘No escape from the past. Watching for police down every street. Any day could be my last. It ain’t much fun being married to a gun. Nothing is forever.’’

Sweeney, a carpenter, of Kentish Town, north London, had denied attempted murder, false imprisonment and causing actual bodily harm to Miss Balmer but was convicted of all charges.