Man in court over fatal stabbing

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A 19-year-old man has appeared before Reading Crown Court charged with murdering his former girlfriend.

The body of Asha Muneer, 18, a student from Whitley, Reading, was discovered by a jogger on a footpath by the River Kennet, next to the A33, on 18 January.

Gulamyr Akhter, of Victoria Way, Reading, was remanded in custody to appear before the same court for a plea and directions hearing on 29 April.

More than 500 people attended Miss Muneer's funeral service last Thursday.

Private burial

A public prayer service was held at Rivermead Leisure Centre and was attended by many of her friends at Highdown School, where Miss Muneer had been taking A-levels in English, sociology and economics.

Miss Muneer's body was found on a footpath near the Madejski football stadium at 2030 GMT, with her handbag lying nearby.

She is thought to have left a Laura Ashley shop on the Brunel Retail Park, where she worked part-time as a shop assistant, more than two hours earlier.

A post-mortem examination revealed that she had suffered 25 stab wounds.

A photo of Miss Muneer sits among flowers, tributes and candles next to the footpath where her body was found.

Her family described her as a loving and beautiful daughter.