Trial date for Julia accused
PCSO Julia James was killed in an “extremely violent and apparently random attack”, a court was told yesterday.
Martin Yale, prosecuting, also said that forensic officers were carrying out tests on an iron bar.
Details of the case emerged as 21-year-old CallumWheeler appeared at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, via videolink accused of the community support officer’s murder.
Speaking from Belmarsh Prison, south-east London,Wheeler only said “yeah” to confirm his name.
He wore a grey T-shirt and trousers with a black Covid mask and sat with his arms folded throughout. Flanking him were prison guards.
Assessment
Judge Philip Statman’s court heard that the trial is expected to last up to four weeks and will start no earlier than November 29.
Julia, 53, was killed on April 27 while walking her dog Toby along a country footpath near her home in Snowdown, Kent.
The married mum of two was a Canterbury-based domestic violence specialist and had just finished a shift working from home.
She died from severe head injuries and her body was found by members of the public with Toby waiting unharmed by her side.
No members of her family were in court yesterday but police led by Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Moss sat in the public gallery.
Lesley Manley, defending Wheeler,
did not apply for bail but did confirm that he would need a psychiatric assessment.
Wheeler, of Aylesham, near Canterbury was remanded in custody until a plea and trial preparation hearing on June 8.
He was arrested last Friday, charged three days later and appeared before Medway magistrates’ court on Tuesday.
Detectives from Kent and Essex serious crime directorate are still conducting searches of the area – including Wheeler’s address.
On Tuesday, exactly two weeks after the murder, officers staged a reconstruction of Julia’s last outing.