Murder suspect in court as last steps of PCSO retraced
A MURDER suspect has appeared in court charged over the death of police community support officer Julia James.
Callum Wheeler spoke only to confirm his name and address to Medway magistrates at yesterday’s hearing.
The 21-year-old, from Aylesham in Kent, was remanded to appear before Maidstone crown court tomorrow.
Wheeler was arrested on Friday night and questioned by detectives over the weekend.
Ms James, 53, was found dead on a remote track on the edge of Ackholt Wood in Snowdown, a hamlet near Aylesham, where she had been walking her Jack Russell Toby on April 27 after working from home.
The Kent Police PCSO, whose loyal dog was discovered unharmed at her side, suffered significant head injuries, a post-mortem examination revealed.
Toby returned to the scene yesterday for a reconstruction with an actress who was filmed walking him, wearing clothes similar to those Ms James had on when she was last seen.
They headed through a wooded area that opened out on to a field – the same route Ms James is believed to have taken in the moments before her death.
There is still a large police presence in the area, with a number of tents put up to preserve evidence.
Asst Ch Con Tom Richards told reporters: ‘Once again, I appeal to anybody who is seeing this footage today who remembers anything at all that could be of assistance to the investigation to help us piece together those last vital pieces.’
Ms James, a mother-of-two, has been described as a much-loved mum, wife and grandmother.