Tia murder accused to face court
The man accused of murdering schoolgirl Tia Sharp is due to appear in court.
Stuart Hazell, 37, is charged with murdering the 12-year-old between August 2 and 11.
Hazell, of New Addington, south London, is to appear at the Old Bailey. On Monday he appeared by video link at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court, south east London. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody.
Tia's body was found on Friday at her grandmother Christine Sharp's home in New Addington, a week after she was reported missing and after a search was launched for her.
Hazell is the partner of Ms Sharp, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed on Sunday pending further inquiries, along with her next door neighbour Paul Meehan, 39, who was bailed on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Despite visiting the terraced property on several occasions, investigators only discovered Tia's body on Friday evening. Officers have apologised to Tia's mother, Natalie Sharp, for the delay.
It was announced on Tuesday that a serious case review has been launched into the death. Merton Council, which has responsibility for Mitcham, where Tia lived with her mother, said it was "standard procedure" to carry out a review.
Chief executive Ged Curran said: "Our thoughts and condolences go out to all those who knew Tia. The local safeguarding children board will now commission a serious case review, the standard procedure in a tragic case such as this. The review will be assisted by the police, health services and local authorities."
Serious case reviews are carried out when a child has died to look at the role played by local agencies in the life of that child and their family. The review aims to find out if any lessons can be learned about ensuring children's safety.
The body is yet to be formally identified but Tia is named as the victim in the charge. A post-mortem examination which was paused on Saturday night is scheduled to resume on Thursday afternoon. No cause of death has yet been identified.
