This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Petri Krohn (talk | contribs) at 17:24, 3 April 2012 (→Timeline: reuse ref BBC timeline). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 17:24, 3 April 2012 by Petri Krohn (talk | contribs) (→Timeline: reuse ref BBC timeline)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | The topic of this article is the subject of active court proceedings, and edits must comply fully with Misplaced Pages's policy on persons accused of crime. Editors should seek consensus before introducing new material. See the talk page for more information. |
| Sian O'Callaghan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sian Emma O'Callaghan 1988 |
| Disappeared | 19 March 2011 Swindon, Wiltshire, England |
| Body discovered | (2011-03-24)24 March 2011 Uffington, Oxfordshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Office administrator |
| Known for | Murder victim |
| Parent(s) | Mick and Elaine |
Sian O'Callaghan was a 22-year-old British woman who disappeared from Swindon, Wiltshire, having last been seen at a nightclub in the town in the early hours of 19 March 2011. A 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of kidnap. Her body was found on 24 March 2011 near Uffington in Oxfordshire. The suspect was later charged with O'Callaghan's murder.
Timeline
At 0252 GMT on 19 March 2011, O'Callaghan was captured on CCTV leaving Swindon's Suju nightclub to walk 800 metres (0.50 mi) to the flat in Swindon's old town that she shared with her boyfriend, Kevin Reape. Reape sent O'Callaghan an SMS at 0324 GMT; analysis later showed that her mobile phone was in the Savernake Forest area – 12 miles (19 km) away – at the time the message was received. At 0945, Reape contacted the police and reported O'Callaghan as missing.
On 20 March, the police issued their first public appeal for information, and announced that they had begun searching Savernake Forest. They stated that the time that elapsed between O'Callaghan's appearance on the club's CCTV and her mobile phone signal (0252 and 0324 respectively) meant that the journey from Swindon to the forest could only have been made by car. On 22 March, approximately 400 members of the public joined the police in their search of the forest. The same day, an anonymous donor offered a £20,000 reward for information that would lead to finding O'Callaghan.
On 23 March, police announced that analysis of O'Callaghan's mobile phone signals led to the identification of a number of "hot spots" to be investigated. Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher of Wiltshire Police said that the investigation was moving at a "rapid pace", and that "significant lines of inquiry" were being developed. Members of the public were asked to stand down from searches.
On 24 March, police made an urgent appeal for witnesses of a green Toyota Avensis with taxi markings, which had been seen between Swindon and Savernake Forest shortly after O'Callaghan's disappearance.
Arrest and discovery of body
On the afternoon of 24 March, police arrested a 47-year-old taxi driver from Swindon on suspicion of kidnapping. The arrest was made at an Asda supermarket in north Swindon, where a green Toyota Avensis taxi was also seized. Later the same day, O'Callaghan's body was found in a shallow grave near Uffington, Oxfordshire.
On 26 March at 2120 GMT the suspect was charged with O'Callaghan's murder.
Investigation
During a news conference on 26 March, Det Supt Fulcher stated that tests revealed that O'Callaghan had not been sexually assaulted.
On 1 April, the inquest at Oxford coroner's court was told that it was likely O'Callaghan died from head injuries, though a forensic pathologist from the Home Office had yet to confirm a precise cause of death.
Funeral
O'Callaghan's funeral was held at Kingsdown Crematorium on 18 April 2011.
Trial
As of April 2012, the suspect, Christopher Halliwell has not entered any pleas to the charges. His trial was due to begin on 5 March 2012, but was postponed following a four day hearing in February 2012. A judge has placed reporting restrictions on what can be published in the UK media before the trial.
See also
References
- UK Births 1837-2006
- ^ Gammell, Caroline (25 March 2011). "Sian O'Callaghan 'knew murder suspect taxi driver through his children'". Telegraph. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ Tearful crowds say farewell to murdered Sian O'Callaghan
- ^ "Timeline: Sian O'Callaghan murder". BBC Online. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Sian police find human remains in Gloucestershire". BBC Online. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Hundreds search forest for missing Sian O'Callaghan". BBC Online. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- "Sian O'Callaghan search officers make taxi appeal". BBC Online. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Sian O'Callaghan search: Kidnap arrest made in Swindon". BBC Online. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- "Sian O'Callaghan: Police get more time to question man". BBC Online. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- "Man charged with Sian O'Callaghan murder". BBC Online. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- "Sian O'Callaghan 'died of head injuries', inquest hears". BBC Online. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
- "Halliwell trial is put back further". Swindon Advertiser. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.