The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A girl and boy accused of murdering a Spalding school dinner lady and her 13-year-old daughter appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday (July 15).
The 15-year old girl and 14-year-old boy are jointly accused of murdering Elizabeth Edwards (49) and her youngest daughter Katie Edwards, whose bodies were discovered at their semi-detached home in Dawson Avenue in April.
No pleas were entered to the charges and both teenagers spoke only to confirm their names and that they understood the proceedings.
The pair, who cannot be identified because of their ages, sat in the glass panelled dock of court room number one divided by staff but regularly looked at each other during the hearing which lasted just over 30 minutes.
The boy, who was wearing a black jacket and white shirt, sat clutching a book during the hearing. The girl, who who was 14 at the time of the alleged offences, sat quietly wearing a black hooded top and trousers, with her head tilted forward.
Both face two charges of murdering Elizabeth Edwards and Katie Edwards on April 15.
The judge, Mrs Justice Carr, who sat without robes, explained the proceedings to both children after Peter Joyce, QC, for the prosecution, outlined the progress of the case. Representations were also made by Andrew Stubbs QC, for the girl, and Simon Myerson QC, for the boy.
The case was adjourned until September 5 when the two teenagers will appear at Nottingham Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing. If the case goes to trial it will begin at Nottingham Crown Court on October 5 and is expected to last two weeks.
Both teenagers were remanded in to secure youth accommodation until their next court appearance.
Elizabeth – known as Liz – was a regular church-goer, and worked as a midday supervisor at St Paul’s Community Primary School. She lived at the house with two of her daughters. She also has a third grown-up daughter.
