Former Beenham man in court for murder

David Burgess appeared at Newbury Magistrates Court an hour ago charged with the murder of Beenham teenager 45 years ago

A FORMER Beenham man stood in the dock in front of Newbury magistrates today (Tuesday) charged with the murder of a teenager in Beenham in October 1966.

David Burgess, aged 64, was charged with the murder of 17-year-old Yolande Waddington at West Berkshire Magistrates Court an hour ago following his arrest by Thames Valley Police last Tuesday (November 15).

The 64-year-old, who was wearing a grey polo top and glasses, spoke to confirm his name and date of birth but has to wait until a hearing at Reading Crown Court on December 5 to enter a plea.

If Mr Burgess, who was representing himself, does not plead guilty or gives no indication of plea on this date then a preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place at the same court on December 16.

Miss Waddington's body was found in a ditch, just yards from a barn at Hall Place Farm in Beenham on Sunday, October 30, 1966. Her body was found lying on one side, half submerged in water. She had been strangled.

At the time, the murder rocked the quiet village of Beenham and brought it unprecedented media attention, with every male villager and visitor to Beenham on the night of her disappearance providing blood samples in a revolutionary step by police.

Last week, villagers expressed shock at news of the arrest, while Glynis Snow, the current landlady of The Six Bells in Beenham - where Miss Waddington was last seen alive - said: “It's horrible. It's not what we want the village to be known for.”