Steven Samson is also accused with three counts of creating indecent pictures of children.
A man and a woman accused of murdering Croydon lady Sarah Mayhew appeared in court. Gemma Watts, 48, of Holmbury Grove in Forestdale, Croydon, and Steven Samson, 44, of Burnell Road in Sutton, appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon (April 9), charged with murdering the 38-year-old and preventing her body from being lawfully and decently buried in New Addington.
Watts, earlier misidentified by the Met Police as Gemma Saundercock, appeared alongside Samson via a video link from Lewisham Police Station, both with black eyes. Both spoke solely to confirm their identification at the start of the hearing. Samson is also charged with three counts of creating obscene photos of a child, which are alleged to be ‘related’ to the other allegations, prosecutor Jessica Kang told the court.
Ms Kang stated: “The nature of the photos does link them to this offence. The phone’s downloads were done simultaneously.” After hearing further facts about the claims, District Judge Roy Brown stated, “I will accept for the purposes of these proceedings that the matters are linked.”
Judge Brown then scheduled the hearing at the Old Bailey for Thursday (April 11), when Watts and Samson are anticipated to enter their pleas. Both will stay in jail.
“Your cases will be sent to the Central Criminal Court for a pre-trial preparation hearing on April 11.” Of course, only the indictable offences apply, which are murder and unlawful burial for each defendant,” Judge Brown added. “The second either way matters will also be sent as they are linked to the indictable only charges.”
The allegations stem from a murder investigation begun by the Met officers following a contact to officers around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, with reports of human remains discovered on Rowdown Fields in New Addington. A Met Police spokesperson said Sarah’s family had been informed of the allegations and were being assisted during a ‘very painful period’.
On Tuesday morning (April 9), Commander Andy Brittain, who leads policing in Croydon, said: “I would like to thank the detectives and officers across the Met whose experience continues to enable this swift and thorough inquiry.
“The local community has also provided significant assistance during this time, as officers carried out this critical task, and we are grateful for their efforts. My heartfelt condolences to Sarah’s family, and we will continue to support them as the inquiry continues.”
