Tributes to Megan as man appears in court charged with her murder
29-YEAR-OLD SET TO GO ON TRIAL IN MARCH
A 29-YEAR-OLD man accused of killing a woman whose body was found on a roadside has made a second court appearance.
Ross McCullam, of Windsor Close, Coalville, is charged with the murder of 23-year-old Megan Newborough, from Nuneaton.
The defendant entered the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and nodded to acknowledge the clerk who announced his name at the start of a 14-minute hearing.
No plea was entered and defence barrister, Robin Howat, said he would not be making an application for bail.
The prosecutor, Graham Huston, attended the hearing via a video link and could be seen on television screens in the courtroom.
Discussions about fixing a twoweek trial slot for next year resulted in a March date being agreed by all parties.
Judge Timothy Spencer QC adjourned yesterday afternoon’s preliminary hearing for a trial preparation hearing to take place at the same court on Friday, October 1.
It was the second court appearance for McCullam, who briefly appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court last week relating to the same charge, so that his case could formally be sent to the crown court.
Judge Spencer remanded McCullam back into custody.
He said the defendant was facing “the most serious crime in criminal law”.
McCullam was escorted from the dock by custody officers, watched by those in the public gallery.
The police were first notified that Megan was missing on Saturday night (August 8). Her body was found in Charley Road, in Charnwood Forest, in the early hours of the following day.
In a statement later issued by Megan’s family, they described their “heartbreak and devastation.”
The family said: “Megan was the most generous, loving and caring person and we’ve been robbed of our treasured daughter.”
Although expressing gratitude for the support they have received, the family asked to be “allowed to grieve in peace.”