Man accused of Sian murder remanded

Mar 30 2011

A taxi driver charged with the murder of Sian O'Callaghan has been remanded in custody.

Christopher Halliwell, 47, will next appear via videolink at Bristol Crown Court on April 8 after no application for bail was made.

He is accused of murdering the 22-year-old personal assistant, from Swindon, after she went missing from the town's Suju nightclub on March 19.

Mr Justice Burnett said: "I'm quite satisfied that bail is inappropriate given the nature and circumstances of the alleged offences."

Sian's body was found close to the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire on Thursday last week.

Her father Mick paid an emotional tribute to his daughter on Monday, the same day as Halliwell appeared before Swindon magistrates.

A 100-strong crown hurled abuse and attacked the police van bringing him and taking him away from Swindon Magistrates Court. He was also abused from the public gallery.

Wiltshire Police are also continuing to examine the remains of a woman, thought to have been aged between 23 and 30, who is believed to have died between 2003 and 2005.