Woman accused over body in garden

A WOMAN has appeared in court charged with murdering a man 12 years ago and burying his body in her back garden.

Barbara Coombes, 63, is accused of killing Kenneth Coombes, believed to be her father, along with preventing his lawful and decent burial.

She made a brief three-minute appearance at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Coombes, wearing blackrimmed spectacles and a brown woolly jumper, spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth.

She is accused of murder on January 8, 2006, and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body, between January 7, 2006 and January 10, 2018.

The defendant is also accused of fraud by false representation between January 15, 2007 and January 10, 2018, by dishonestly making a false representation, sending official letters in the name of Mr Coombes, intending to make a gain by claiming monies not belonging to herself.

The final charge is obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception between January 7, 2006 and January 15, 2007, by making a false representation that she was a carer for Mr Coombes.

The mother of one made no reaction as she was handcuffed to a prison officer. District Judge David Scanlon remanded her in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court this morning.

Coombes, of Matlock Road, Reddish, Stockport, was first arrested on Sunday. Police then dug up the back garden of her home where human remains were found and she was charged with the four offences on Wednesday night.