Second woman remanded on Sadie Hartley murder charge

Updated

A second woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of 60-year-old businesswoman Sadie Hartley.

Katrina Walsh, 55, of Hare Lane, Chester, made her first appearance at Blackburn Magistrates' Court accused of killing Ms Hartley on January 14.

Walsh, who has thinning hair and was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a green coat with a fur-trimmed hood, was flanked in the dock by two female officers during the two- minute hearing.

No pleas were entered to the allegation.

Walsh was remanded into custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on Friday ahead of a preliminary hearing along with co-defendant Sarah Williams.

Walsh looked frail and at one point bowed her head. She nodded as she was told by JPs that the case would be sent to the crown court.

On Wednesday, a second suspect, Williams, 34, of Blacon, Chester, appeared at the same court, also charged with the murder of Ms Hartley.

Williams did not enter a plea to the charge.

Mother-of-two Ms Hartley was found dead at her house in Sunny Bank Road, Helmshore, Lancashire, on January 15.

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