05/09/2008

Shannon's Mum Faces Fresh Charges

The mother of Shannon Matthews, the girl who went 'missing' for several weeks earlier this year, has been charged with her kidnap and false imprisonment.

These new charges were revealed as Karen Matthews appeared at Leeds Crown Court.

Both her and Michael Donovan, 40, also from Dewsbury, pleaded not guilty today to the charges and were remanded in custody until their trial on 11 November.

The 32-year-old mum, Karen Matthews, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, denies those charges and an earlier charge of perverting the course of justice.

The uncle of Mrs Matthews' former partner, Craig Meehan, also now faces a charge of perverting the course of justice, which he denies.

Nine-year-old Shannon was found on 14 March, 24 days after she went missing following a school swimming trip.

The schoolgirl was found in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her Dewsbury Moor home.

The charge of perverting the course of justice said the accused "did a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice and that you reported to the West Yorkshire Police that Shannon Matthews was a missing person when you knew where she was and you were keeping her from being found".

See: Two Women Arrested In Shannon Matthews Case

(BMcC/KMcA)

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Shannon Matthews was drugged and kidnapped as part of a "dishonest and wicked plan" by her mother and the man whose flat she was found in, a court has heard. The nine-year-old schoolgirl's mother Karen Matthews, and Michael Donovan appeared at Leeds Crown Court today in relation to her disappearance in West Yorkshire earlier this year.
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Shannon's Mother Remanded In Custody
Karen Matthews has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged in connection with her daughter Shannon's disappearance. The 32-year-old, from Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, appeared before Dewsbury Magistrates' Court charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice.
12 March 2008
Mother Claims Shannon 'Was Abducted'
The mother of missing West Yorkshire schoolgirl Shannon Matthews has said that she fears that her daughter was abducted by someone she knows. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme, Karen Matthews said that she believed Shannon was abducted after she disappeared last month.
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Matthews says bird flu scare was not his fault
Bernard Matthews, whose poultry firm was at the heart of the recent bird flu outbreak in Britain, has apologised for the scare, but insisted it was not his fault.