04/12/2007

Rachel Nickell Murder Accused Appears In Court

A 41-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of former model Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common 15 years ago.

Robert Napper appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court today, accused of the 23-year-old's murder.

He was granted technical bail on the condition that he remains detained at Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for December 20 at the Old Bailey, ahead of a trial.

Ms Nickell was stabbed 49 times and sexually assaulted as she walked with her young son on Wimbledon Common in southwest London on July 15, 1992.

Colin Stagg, from Roehampton, west London, was found guilty of her murder, but was cleared in 1994, after a judge threw out the case on the grounds that police had used a "honey trap" plot, using an undercover police officer who befriended Mr Stagg in order to gain a confession from him.

Mr Napper was charged, following a review of the case by the Crown Prosecution Service.

(KMcA)




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