Lindsay Birbeck: Boy appears in court accused of murdering teaching assistant
Mother-of-two Lindsay Birbeck's body was found at Accrington Cemetery 12 days after she went missing.
Monday 2 September 2019 14:35, UK
A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court accused of strangling a teaching assistant in a random attack.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, made his first appearance in court on Monday, charged with the murder of mother-of-two Lindsay Birbeck, 47, whose body was found at a cemetery in Accrington.
He was led into Blackburn Magistrates' Court from a police van, holding a jacket over his head.
In court, his parents sat in front of the glass dock as he was led up in handcuffs. His mother cried throughout the hearing.
Wearing a white shirt, he was flanked by a dock officer, who released the cuffs before the boy gave his name, date of birth and address to the court.
The teenager nodded when asked if his nationality was British.
He is alleged to have murdered Mrs Birbeck at some time between 12 August and 24 August.
There was no indication of plea given, and the boy was remanded into secure accommodation by chairman of the bench Paul Wright.
Mr Wright told him: "We are not making any decision today about whether you are guilty or not. That is for a later time and has to be dealt with at a crown court. Do you understand that?"
The boy replied: "Yes."
He will now appear at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday.
Mrs Birbeck went missing from her home in Huncoat, Accrington, on 12 August, with her disappearance prompting a wide-ranging search by hundreds of members of the community.
Her body was found in Accrington Cemetery on 24 August.