Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
21-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF PCSO’S MURDER
SUSPECT IN COURT OVER DEATH OF JULIA JAMES
The man accused of murdering PCSO Julia James is to appear before a judge for the first time today (Thursday). Callum Wheeler, 21, was arrested on Friday night, 10 days after the mum-of-two was found dead beside woodland in the hamlet of Snowdown, outside Canterbury.
Julia had left home to walk her dog on Tuesday, April 27, but was discovered dead shortly after 4pm, having suffered serious head injuries. Wheeler, of Sunshine Corner Avenue in nearby Aylesham, was charged with her murder shortly after 10pm on Monday, following a major investigation by police.
He appeared before Medway magistrates on Tuesday morning and was remanded in prison, to appear at Maidstone Crown Court today (Thursday). His charge comes after a fast-moving week, which has seen several major developments in the high-profile murder probe.
Last week, charity Crimestoppers announced it would pay a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of Julia’s killer.
On Friday, detectives released an image of a man they were keen to trace - who they believed had information that was “crucial to the investigation”.
The image was shared widely by news outlets and on social media, and later that same night police announced they had identified the man pictured.
Callum Wheeler has since been charged with Julia’s murder, but the mammoth investigation into her death continues.
Hundreds of police officers have been working round-theclock to question residents, review CCTV and scour fields, woodland, and sites, including the abandoned Snowdown Colliery for evidence, as additional officers have been drafted in from forces across the country. Police have also spent several days searching Wheeler’s home.
Forensics teams were seen removing large bags of items from the property on Monday, while officers were also seen looking in drains and a skip. Prior to Wheeler’s charge, neighbours told the Gazette that any occupants of the house “keep themselves to themselves”.
Gemma Ottewell, who lives a couple of doors down, said: “I don’t know anybody who lives there. Whenever I’ve walked past there the curtains have always been closed.” Julia’s daughter, Bethan Coles, has taken to Facebook to thank police for their relentless efforts.
Mrs Coles, herself a police officer, wrote: “Everyone has been working tirelessly. There are no words to express how grateful I am.” Following news that a sus
pect has been charged, others have praised police for their work.
One Aylesham man wrote on social media: “I’m honestly so proud of Kent Police. And thank you to our community for pulling together.” Meanwhile, dog owners and walkers across the country who have been moved by the tragic news of Julia’s death are set to come together for walks in her memory at 10am on May 23, with local events organised for Aylesham and Canterbury. Those behind the Aylesham event stress it will be “a peaceful walk” and not a protest, and invite people taking part to wear a blue ribbon for Julia. On Facebook, they wrote: “Julia was a daughter, a mum, a wife, a community giver and a dog lover.
“We are walking in respect for Julia and her life.” They ask walkers to adhere to government social distancing guidelines - which will allow up to 30 people to gather outdoors from Monday.
A fundraiser has also been set up, so family of “brilliant” PCSO Julia, who “dedicated much of her life serving the community”, can erect a bench in her memory.
It has already raised nearly three times its original target of £1,000.
Visit www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/julia-james. Anyone with information about Julia’s death is urged to call police on 0800 0514526.