A man has appeared in court charged with murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend, who went missing last week.
Jack Wall, 22, appeared before magistrates in Hatfield yesterday (November 13) accused of the murder of Heathfield student Amelia Arnold. Miss Arnold disappeared from the home she shared with Mr Wall in Hadrian’s Walk, Stevenage, last Wednesday.
A body believed to be that of Miss Arnold was found in woodland near Travellers Lane in Hatfield four days later.
Formal identification of the body has yet to be carried out, but Miss Arnold’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, Hertfordshire Police said.
A post-mortem carried out last night revealed the cause of death to be head injuries, a force spokesman confirmed.
Mr Wall was remanded in custody and will appear at Luton Crown Court on Thursday. A second man was remanded in custody at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Monday, November 12 in connection with the case.
Joseph Potter, 41, of Sycamore Avenue, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, is charged with perverting the course of justice. He will next appear at Cambridge Crown Court on November 19.
Meanwhile, Miss Arnold’s headteacher at Heathfield Community College paid tribute to the student. Alan Powell said: “Amelia was a student at Heathfield Community College from September 2005 to April 2009.
"She was a kind-hearted, caring and cheerful girl, who participated fully in all year group activities. All at the college are devastated by this news.”
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