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Christopher Halliwell faces murder trial 'next year' | |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Swindon man accused of murdering Sian O'Callaghan and Becky Godden-Edwards would face trial next year, a court has heard. | |
Taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, 47, appeared via video link at Bristol Crown Court after being charged with Miss Godden-Edwards' murder on Monday. | Taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, 47, appeared via video link at Bristol Crown Court after being charged with Miss Godden-Edwards' murder on Monday. |
A plea and case management hearing has already been fixed for 14 July. | A plea and case management hearing has already been fixed for 14 July. |
Judge Neil Ford QC, Recorder of Bristol, said if the case was contested any trial would be held in January. | |
Mr Halliwell, of Ashbury Avenue, was charged in March with the murder of Miss O'Callaghan, 22, who went missing last December after leaving a Swindon nightclub. | |
The remains of Miss Godden-Edwards, who would have celebrated her 29th birthday in April, were discovered at Eastleach in Gloucestershire by police investigating Miss O'Callaghan's murder. | |
The new charge alleges that he murdered Miss Godden-Edwards in Swindon on a day between 27 December 2002 and 1 January 2006. | |
Judge Ford said: "What I will say is if this is a contested matter, the case will be tried - unless there is good reason why it shouldn't - in January next year. | |
"It would have to be tried by a High Court judge." | |
There was no application for bail and Mr Halliwell was remanded into custody. |