Mum ‘lied after dad killed girl over sex claim’
A FATHER murdered his teenage daughter to silence her claims that he sexually abused her, a court heard.
Both BernadetteWalker’s parents then told police she had run away and sent messages pretending to be from their girl, it was said.
Scott Walker, 51, and wife Sarah, 38, are accused of forming an “unholy alliance” to cover up her death.
Bernadette was last seen alive in Peterborough on July 18 last year but her body has not been found.
Her mother did not report her missing until July 21, said prosecutor Lisa Wilding QC.
Ms Wilding said the photography student, known as Bea, had told her mother on July 16 that her father “had been sexually abusing her over a number of years”.
Ms Wilding went on: “Sarah Walker told Bernadette that she did not believe her. The following day, it was decided that Bernadette should go and spend the night with her paternal grandparents.”
Bernadette’s father dropped her at her grandparents’ house on the evening of July 17 and collected her the following morning, Cambridge Crown Court heard. Ms Wilding said: “Scott Walker killed Bernadette to prevent her pursuing her allegations of sexual abuse. “He then enlisted the help of his wife to cover his tracks.
“They hid her disappearance from everyone and deliberately set a false trail. They diverted the investigation into her disappearance.
“Scott and Sarah Walker hacked into Bea’s social media accounts, sent false messages, pretending to be from her, to her friends.
“They lied to everyone around them. All parental love and responsibility was gone, if ever it actually existed.”
Scott Walker denies murder on or after July 18 last year and four counts of perverting the course of justice. Sarah Walker denies two counts of perverting the course of justice.The trial continues.