The man accused of murdering British schoolgirl Tia Sharp was remanded to custody today after appearing at court.
Stuart Hazell (37), who appeared via video from a police station, spoke to confirm his name and date of birth. His voice cracked when he was asked to confirm his address, The Lindens, New Addington, south London, where Tia was found dead.
Mr Hazell appeared from Sutton police station by video link at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court, southeast London.
No plea was entered to the charge, which accuses him of murdering the girl (12) between August 2 and 11. Her body was found on Friday, a week after she was reported missing and after a search was opened for her.
Mr Hazell will appear at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, when there might be a bail application. A further date for a preliminary hearing was recorded as November 19th. No relatives appeared at court today.
Mr Hazell is the partner of Tia’s grandmother Christine Sharp (46).
She was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed yesterday pending further inquiries along with her next door neighbour Paul Meehan (39), who was bailed on
suspicion of assisting an offender.
Despite visiting the terraced property on several occasions, investigators only discovered Tia’s body on Friday evening. Officers have apologised to Tia’s mother, Natalie Sharp, for the delay in locating her body.
Yesterday the grieving mother wept as she left a tribute to her daughter alongside hundreds of flowers and cards which carpet the pavement near the grandmother’s home.
PA