Murder charge following death of woman near Birchington

Detectives investigating the death of a woman near Birchington have charged a man with murder.

Claire Knights, 54, was initially reported missing from the village of Upstreet on Wednesday 23 August 2023.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate arrested a man on suspicion of murder the following day.

Following extensive enquiries, Claire was found deceased in an area between St Nicholas At Wade and Minnis Bay on Friday 25 August.

Charged

On Monday 18 September, Harrison Lawrence-van Pooss was charged with murder.

He was also charged with voyeurism following an investigation into a separate incident in which ‘upskirt’ images of a woman were covertly taken on Tuesday 22 August in Birchington.

The 20-year-old, of Margate, appeared via live link at Medway Magistrates' Court on Monday 18 September where he was remanded in custody.

The next hearing of the case is expected to be at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday 19 December. 

 

• News updated at 3pm on Wednesday 20 September.

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