Stepbrother of Becky Watts may face murder trial in autumn

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/mar/06/stepbrother-of-becky-watts-may-face-trial-in-autumn

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The stepbrother of Becky Watts has been told he may face trial for the 16-year-old’s murder in the autumn.

Nathan Matthews, 28, made his first crown court appearance via video-link from HMP Bristol during the 15-minute hearing. Wearing a grey sweatshirt, he looked unshaven and tired.

The court ruled that Matthews would next appear on 26 March for a review hearing. His girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, who is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, will also appear that day.

Matthews and Hoare were arrested last Saturday, just over a week after Becky vanished from her home in Bristol. On Monday night, body parts were found at an address in the Barton Hill area of Bristol, about 100m from a house that Matthews and Hoare shared.

The pair appeared separately at Bristol magistrates court on Thursday. An automatic bail hearing was held for Matthews on Friday morning, though no application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody.

As he waited for the hearing to start, Matthews could be seen in a video-link room at Bristol prison, watched over by a female guard. When the hearing began, he spoke only to confirm that he could hear and his name.

Ward told the recorder of Bristol, Judge Neil Ford, that Matthews had been charged with the murder of Rebecca Watts. The judge agreed that it was not appropriate to give details of the case in open court.

The judge recommended that steps be taken to ensure Matthews and Hoare could not get in touch.

Five people, four men and a woman all in their twenties, remain in custody having been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They were arrested after the body parts were found. Police have until later on Friday to release or charge them.

Ford set two “tentative” dates for any future trial in September and October. He said it was likely that a high court judge would hear the case.

Matthews nodded as the judge told him that the date for the next hearing would be 26 March.

Becky vanished from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, on 19 February. Police launched a huge search after she was reported missing the following afternoon, including a social media campaign. Bouquets, teddies and cards have been left at Becky’s family home, as well as at Barton Court, where the body parts were found.