Mum of missing Bernadette Walker weeps as she appears in court accused of 17-year-old’s murder
A MUM wept in court today as she appeared accused of murdering her 17-year-old daughter Bernadette Walker.
Sarah Walker, 37, used a white towel draped around her shoulder to wipe away tears during the five minute hearing at Peterborough Crown Court.
Sarah Walker wept in court today as she appeared charged with the murder of Bernadette, 17[/caption] The college student was reported missing on July 21[/caption] Bernadette and her mum. Police have said they are treating the teen’s disappearance as a ‘no body’ murder investigation[/caption] Scott and Sarah Walker appeared via video link from separate prisons for the five minute hearing at Peterborough Crown Court[/caption]Mrs Walker and Bernadette’s dad Scott Walker, 50, are both accused of murdering the teenager, who was reported missing on July 21 from their five-bedroom council house in Central Square, Peterborough.
The couple, who have nine children including a six-month-old baby, were charged on Monday.
The college student’s body has still not been found.
The pair both wore black T-shirts when they appeared via video link from separate prisons.
Neither of them made a plea to the charge of murder during the short hearing before Judge Sean Enright.
No applications were made for bail and the case was adjourned for a date to be fixed.
The couple appeared in court as cops continue to search for Bernadette’s body.
Police search teams have walked across open fields of stubble and used sticks to poke undergrowth alongside water-filled ditched clogged with weed.
Officers have been searching an area of open Fenland criss-crossed by farm tracks and waterways around Cowbit, Lincs. – about 10 miles north of Bernadette’s home.
Police are expected to spend up to several weeks carrying out searches across a wide area stretching several miles.
Separately, police have also been searching a garage crammed with possessions about a mile from Bernadette’s home.
Bernadette’s parents told police they last saw her on July 18 when she ran out of their car.
They said they received a text nearly two days later at 1am on July 20 to say that she would be returning home “soon” to the family’s five bedroom council home.
But when they heard nothing more, she was reported missing the following day on July 21.
Detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit revealed on September 12 that they were treating the teenager’s disappearance as a “no body” murder investigation.
Officers arrested Mr Walker on Friday and then arrested Mrs Walker on Saturday night on suspicion of her murder.
Officers spent the weekend standing guard outside their home which was cordoned off with police tape.
DESPERATE SEARCH
Specialist forensic officers were seen going in and out of the house along with a police dog handler and her spaniel sniffer dog.
While Bernadette was missing, mum Sarah had urged the public to distribute posters.
She said: “We have had no contact with her since 1am on July 20, when she texted me to say she would be home soon. None of her friends have heard from her and she’s not accessed social media.”
She added: “I can’t eat or sleep properly. I miss and love my eldest princess so much, she’s missing out on her baby sister, who has learned to smile and coo already.
“I have to think that she is hiding at one of her friend’s homes, worried about coming home now that the police will want to speak to her, I can’t think of any alternative scenarios, I just can’t.
“I know my baby girl wouldn’t be out in the open. She’s scared of being out in the dark alone, that’s what makes me think she’s at a friend’s house.
“I just wish someone would just say she’s here and she’s safe. I want to cuddle her, but right now I’d accept that she’s safe and well.”
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Dad Scott also appealed for information, saying: “You can imagine how much we are both worried.
“We miss you. We need to know that you’re safe. We love you.”
A provisional date for the start of a trial which is expected to last two or three weeks was set for March 16.
Police search teams have walked across open fields of stubble with sticks [/caption] Police outside the family home in Peterborough [/caption]