Woman charged with murder of eight-year-old in Billingham
Louise Cameron, 40, remanded after boy found dead at Marsh House Avenue; case to be heard at Teesside Crown Court
A 40-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of an eight-year-old boy after his body was found inside a house in Billingham, police and court records show.
Louise Cameron was accused of killing Rhys Anthony Cameron between Saturday and Monday, authorities said. Police were alerted by the North East Ambulance Service and arrived at the Marsh House Avenue property at about 10 a.m. on Monday.
Cameron appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court in Middlesbrough on Wednesday, where she confirmed her name, address and date of birth during a short hearing. The court heard the charge is murder and, under the procedures for such offences in England and Wales, the case must be dealt with at the Crown Court. The magistrates' bench told Cameron: "You have heard this case cannot be heard and bail cannot be decided at this court."
Prosecutor Marcus Blakelock and defence solicitor Tyler Plunkett gave no further details to the court. Cameron was remanded into custody and is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Friday, Sept. 19.
Images taken at the scene on Tuesday showed a police van parked outside the house and officers conducting forensic enquiries. Police said the investigation into the boy's death is ongoing; no additional information about the circumstances of the death or the relationship, if any, between the accused and the child was released in court.
Under the criminal process in England and Wales, allegations of murder are transmitted from magistrates' courts to crown courts, which have jurisdiction to try such cases. The remand pending a crown court appearance is a standard step when a magistrates' court lacks the authority to determine a murder trial.
Police have not released further public statements about the progress of their inquiries. The case is expected to be listed for an initial appearance at Teesside Crown Court on Sept. 19, when a crown court judge will consider directions for the prosecution and defence and any custody or bail matters.