Murder suspect accused of killing another woman
Sadness as mum-of-two’s body is found
The man accused of killing a Sissinghurst mum has appeared in court, where it was revealed he has been charged with the murder of a second woman.
Alexandra Morgan, a mother of two, went missing on Remembrance Sunday last year. The 34-year-old was last seen buying petrol at the Shell service station at The Common, the road where she lived, at 7.20am.
Officers carried out extensive searches in three areas near Hastings and another near Sevenoaks Weald.
Police last week confirmed the sad news that her body has since been found.
On Friday Mark Brown pleaded not guilty to her murder.
But it emerged the 40-year-old, of Squirrel Close, St-Leonardson-Sea, East Sussex, will have to return to court on March 25 to make a plea in relation to a new, second charge of murder.
He is accused of killing 33-year
old Leah Ware from Hastings on or around May 7 last year.
The Brighton and Hove Recorder, Judge Christine Laing, sitting at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex, said the addition of the second charge made it likely that the case would now need to be heard by a High Court judge, so a date for the trial could not be set immediately.
Brown appeared in court via a video link from Belmarsh Prison. He was dressed in an over-sized grey sweater and grey trousers and looked gaunt and unshaven.
He spoke only to confirm his name and enter his not guilty plea.
Defending, Danny Moore, told the judge Brown’s defence would be that Miss Morgan’s death had been an accident, but he would admit to trying to dispose of her body by fire.
Following the hearing, senior investigating officers DCI Neil Kimber of Kent Police and DCI Andy Wolstenholme from the force in Sussex, said: “Our thoughts are with the families of both Alexandra and Leah at this difficult time.
“Whilst we have located the remains of Alexandra we have yet to find Leah and our investigations remain ongoing.
“We are appealing for anyone with information regarding either Leah or Alexandra to contact us urgently.”
n Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Gallery for Kent or Operation Acresdown for Sussex.
Alternatively visit the Kent Major Incident Public Portal which has been set up at www. tinyurl.com/portalKM