Police hope to identify second body

Detectives checking dental records after recovering human remains from field in Oxfordshire Detectives investigating the murder of Sian O’Callaghan are hoping to identify a second body found as part of the inquiry. They are checking dental records to find a match with remains of a young woman found in a farmer’s field in Oxfordshire. If the records do not help, officers will try to obtain a sample of DNA from the bones, a process that could take several weeks. Meanwhile, taxi driver Chris Halliwell remains behind bars on remand after appearing before Swindon magistrates charged with O’Callaghan’s murder. Halliwell faced an angry crowd inside and outside court that shouted insults and threats. Just before the hearing, the venue was switched to different courtroom so that Halliwell could be held in a dock with a roof on it, amid concern that missiles could be thrown. A packed public gallery was warned not to disrupt the hearing by the chair of the bench, Angus MacPherson. But as Halliwell was led from the dock, insults were hurled at him and one person shouted: “If we ever get hold of you we will kill you.” Outside, about 100 people had gathered. One man shouted: “Judge, give him bail. We will look after him.” Another yelled: “There is £150,000 on your head.” As the police van containing Halliwell was driven away, five or six onlookers banged on the side of the vehicle and chased it down the street. Halliwell, 47, wore a dark suit and striped shirt for his three-minute appearance. He spoke only to confirm his name, address, age and the identity of his lawyer. The clerk of the court said Halliwell was charged with murdering O’Callaghan between 18 and 25 March. He clasped his hands in front of him as the court head that a routine bail hearing will take place on Wednesday. O’Callaghan’s father, Mick O’Callaghan, later paid tribute to a “bright, bubbly, caring and friendly” daughter. Speaking in public for the first time since her body was found near a roadside in Oxfordshire, he described the family’s pain as “raw and overwhelming”. Sitting with Sian’s older brother, Liam, he said he was speaking for the whole family, including his wife Elaine and Sian’s partner, Kevin Reape. “As a family we wanted to express a few words about our beautiful daughter, a wonderful sister to Liam, Lora and Aiden and loving girlfriend to Kevin,” he said. “Sian was a bubbly, friendly, caring and loving girl. She was instantly likable, beautiful and considerate. “Although our pain at this time is raw and overwhelming, our memories of Sian will be a comfort to us in the dark days ahead.” He thanked the police, family, friends, the media and residents of Swindon for their help and support. “We would also like to thank the community in Swindon for their overwhelming kindness and support,” he said. “The sheer numbers of people involved in the searches, the vigils, flowers, lantern lighting and murals to Sian are incredibly touching and beautiful. Thank you.” O’Callaghan, a 22-year-old office administrator, disappeared in the early hours of Saturday 19 March after a night out with friends at the Suju nightclub in Swindon. Her body was found close to the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire, about 12 miles east of the town, on Thursday. Police are appealing again for information from people who saw anything in the Ramsbury area, near Marlborough, 12 miles south of Swindon, from 3am on Saturday – the night she went missing. The work to identify the second body found near the village of Eastleach in Gloucestershire, 15 miles north of Swindon, is continuing. The remains, believed to be those of a woman aged between 23 and 30, were discovered on Saturday and police believe she disappeared between 2003 and 2005. A police source said officers are checking dental records to try to establish her identity. If they can find a match they may know the identity today. If not the process could be a much longer one. Crime Police Steven Morris guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 28, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.