Man on Beenham murder charge appears in court

Man accused of 1966 murder of Yolande Waddington appears at Reading Crown Court

FORMER Beenham man David Burgess has appeared in court charged with the murder 45 years ago of Beenham teenager Yolande Waddington.

Mr Burgess appeared at Reading Crown Court this morning (Friday).

On Sunday, October 30, 1966 the near naked body of 17-year-old Yolande Waddington (pictured), who had lived in the village for just five days, was found yards from a barn at Hall Place Farm in Beenham.

She had been strangled.

Miss Waddington was a former pupil at St Gabriel's School who previously lived in Newbury and disappeared on Friday, October 28, 1966.

Last month Thames Valley Police arrested 64-year-old David Burgess, formerly of Beenham, and charged him with her murder.

Just after 11am this morning Mr Burgess sat in the dock wearing a grey polo shirt and glasses.

He spoke only once to confirm his name following which his QC, Vincent Coughlin indicated a not guilty plea.

The court then paused for a few minutes as Miss Waddington's family and friends wept in the public gallery.

Mr Coughlin, defending, suggested a trial should commence in the Autumn of 2012 but Judge Zoe Smith listed the matter for trial on June 13, saying that Miss Waddington's family had waited long enough.

Mr Burgess has been remanded in custody and will next appear before Reading Crown Court on March 9 for a plea and case management hearing.

The press bench was full of local and national media with some journalists having to sit in the public gallery or stand.