Northern Ireland

Charlotte Murray: Co Tyrone man to stand trial over ex-girlfriend murder

John Miller has been charged with the murder of missing Co Tyrone woman Charlotte Murray
John Miller has been charged with the murder of missing Co Tyrone woman Charlotte Murray John Miller has been charged with the murder of missing Co Tyrone woman Charlotte Murray

A CO Tyrone man is to stand trial over the murder of his former girfriend.

Charlotte Murray (34) went missing in October 2012, and her body has never been recovered.

John Patrick Miller appeared at Dungannon Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, to be formally arraigned on the single charge he faced.

The 48-year-old, of Redford Park, Dungannon, replied "not guilty'' when the charge of murdering Ms Murray on a date between October 31, 2012 and November 2, 2012, was put to him.

During a brief hearing, Mr Justice Colton heard that the trial is expected to last up to four weeks.

However, no venue had yet been selected. Mr Justice Colton said he would review the position of a venue for the hearing in two weeks time ahead of the trial which is due to start on September 9.

No details were given in court about the circumstances surrounding Ms Murray's murder.

A previous hearing in Dungannon Magistrates' Court, heard from a PSNI detective sergeant who told the district judge that police believe Mr Miller murdered Ms Murray after he became aware she had been having a brief relationship with another man, and that explicit images of them together had been forwarded to Mr Miller by email.

He added that spatters of Charlotte Murray's blood had been found in a bathroom at the house in Roxborough Heights that she had shared with Mr Miller.

However, a defence lawyer rejected this assertion, saying: "The presence of blood does not signify a murder occurred in that house. Animal blood was also found there."

Ms Murray was originally from Omagh but had been living in Moy, and had worked in the Cohannon Inn nearby.

Shortly before her disappearance, she had been looking for other work, and had been offered a sales job in Belfast.

Mr Miller, who is originally from Coleraine, had also been working at the Cohannon Inn.

Despite extensive police inquiries and appeals for information, the detective said Ms Murray's body has never been found despite extensive searches. She was reported missing by her family in 2013.

The PSNI sergeant told the hearing detectives were also searching for a missing computer, a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone which they believe would offer valuable evidence, along with an engagement ring Ms Murray had bought in March 2012.