PC’s ‘attempt to murder PhD student’
A POLICE officer appeared in the dock yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a woman at a hotel.
James Riley, pictured below, a constable with Lancashire Police, was arrested following reports of an alleged incident last Thursday night.
The 27-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, age and address at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. He is accused of the attempted murder of Ellie Moxham understood to be a PhD student. Riley was dressed in a grey sweatshirt and trousers for the five-minute hearing.
No bail application was made, and Riley was remanded in custody.
Lancashire Police said Riley – who works for the force’s south division, which includes
Preston – had been suspended from duty and that the matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Officers were called to the Manchester city centre Premier Inn following a ‘report of concern for the welfare of a woman’ last Thursday. Miss Moxham, 24, was taken to hospital. Yesterday’s hearing was told that she remains there in a stable condition.
Riley will appear at Manchester Crown Court next month for a pre-trial preparation hearing.