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Lindsay Birbeck: Boy, 16, in court over teaching assistant death Lindsay Birbeck: Teaching assistant murder-accused boy, 16, in court
(about 1 hour later)
A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering a teaching assistant found strangled in a cemetery has made his first appearance at crown court. A 16-year-old boy accused of murdering a teaching assistant found strangled in a cemetery has appeared in court.
The body of Lindsay Birbeck, 47, was found at Accrington Cemetery, Lancashire, on 24 August - almost two weeks after she went missing. The boy, who cannot be named because of his age is charged over the death of Lindsay Birbeck, 47.
The boy, from Accrington, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Preston Crown Court. Mrs Birbeck, found dead at Accrington Cemetery, Lancashire, on 24 August, had been missing for nearly two weeks.
He was remanded in custody until a plea hearing in December at the same court. No bail application was made at Preston Crown Court and the boy, from Accrington, is due back at the court for a plea hearing, in December.
A trial date has been set for 25 February and is estimated to last two weeks. During the hearing, at which the boy appeared via video link, a provisional trial date was set for 25 February.
The trial is expected to be heard at the same court and estimated to last two weeks.
Hundreds of people joined searches for Mrs Birbeck when she disappeared from her home in Huncoat, Accrington.Hundreds of people joined searches for Mrs Birbeck when she disappeared from her home in Huncoat, Accrington.
Her children - Steven, 19, and Sarah, 16 - paid tribute to her last week, describing her as "a great mum and wife, much-loved daughter, loving aunty and sister-in-law and a great friend too".Her children - Steven, 19, and Sarah, 16 - paid tribute to her last week, describing her as "a great mum and wife, much-loved daughter, loving aunty and sister-in-law and a great friend too".