Man Who Ate Human Testicles in Salad Loses Appeal
Marius Gustavson, the notorious figure behind an extreme body modification ring, faced a setback as his appeal against a life sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. Gustavson, who infamously cooked human testicles to incorporate into a salad, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for orchestrating a series of dangerous procedures, including male castration and penis removal, on individuals as young as 16.
In February, Gustavson joined five co-defendants—Janus Atkin, David Carruthers, Ashley Williams, Damien Byrnes, and Jacob Crimi-Appleby—in challenging their respective sentences. These individuals received prison terms ranging from three years and eight months to 12 years for their involvement in the disturbing enterprise.
During the appeal hearing, the defense argued that the sentencing guidelines failed to adequately consider cases where individuals consented to such extreme acts. However, the court's ruling on Wednesday, delivered by Lord Justice William Davis, Mr. Justice Griffiths, and Judge Simon Drew KC, rejected all six appeals.
In a detailed 25-page judgment, Lord Justice William Davis acknowledged the complexity of the sentencing process, describing the case as “extremely unusual.” He emphasized that the adjustments made to the sentences were both reasonable and proportionate, aimed at deterring others from engaging in similarly perilous body modification practices.
“The sentences were intended to convey a clear message regarding the dangers associated with these procedures,” Davis stated. He also noted that the judge's approach in considering consent was appropriate and that the reduction in Gustavson’s sentence due to this factor was “generous.”
“Given the rarity of consensual grievous bodily harm cases, it is essential for judges to assess consent based on the unique circumstances of each case,” he added. The court recognized that the original sentencing judge had appropriately utilized guidelines while making necessary deductions for consent.
Last year, the Old Bailey learned that extreme body modification is part of a subculture where men pursue “nullification,” involving the removal of genitalia. Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC revealed that Gustavson earned over $400,000 between 2017 and 2021 by sharing videos of various procedures on his website, Eunuch Maker.
Gustavson's actions included cooking human testicles and freezing his own leg to necessitate amputation. Carberry highlighted that he was linked to at least 29 procedures and there was “clear evidence of cannibalism.” The court heard that tools used in these operations included animal castration clamps, with body parts auctioned online featuring a “buy it now” option.
Additionally, Gustavson attempted to sell a severed penis from one of his victims for hundreds of pounds. His website attracted around 22,000 subscribers who paid varying membership fees for access to content ranging from free to VIP levels costing £100.
His arrest followed an incident where he branded a man's calf with a red-hot iron marked “EM” for Eunuch Maker. Upon his detention, police discovered his own amputated penis stored in a drawer at his home in Haringey, north London.
Gustavson later pleaded guilty to multiple charges including conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and five counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. His co-defendants also admitted their roles in the conspiracy involving 13 victims. Atkin, Carruthers, and Williams received sentences of 12 years, 11 years, and four years and six months respectively for their participation in the conspiracy. Williams was 32 at the time of last year’s trial.
Byrnes and Crimi-Appleby were sentenced after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm to Gustavson. Byrnes received a five-year sentence for removing Gustavson’s penis on video in February 2017. Crimi-Appleby was sentenced to three years and eight months for freezing Gustavson’s leg, which led to its amputation in February 2019.
