Man In Court Over Manning Murder

By Amy Woodfield, 9th December 2011, 14:13

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A man charged with murdering a 19 year old woman whose body was found on a golf course has been in court but isn't expected to stand trial until summer 2012.

Rachel Manning (right) went missing after a going to a family party in Milton Keynes a fortnight before Christmas in December 2000.  Her body was found eight miles away at Woburn Golf Club two days later.

More than ten years after Rachel's murder, Shahidul Ahmed, 40, appeared at Luton Crown Court on Friday 9 December 2011 via a video link to Woodhill Prison, Milton Keynes, where he is being held on remand.

The charge was not put to him but a timetable was set for the progress of the case.

Ben Gumpert, prosecuting described it as 'an unusual case' because another man was tried, convicted, and then cleared of the charge.

He said Ahmed had been arrested following developments in scientific evidence found at the scene but said because of the complexities of the case additional time was required before the full papers could be served.

He also said that realistically the prosecution and defence would not be ready for a trial until late summer 2012.

Judge Richard Foster allowed the extra time and remanded Ahmed, of Chestnut Cres, Bletchley, in custody until Mar 27 next year when the charge will be put to him.  There was no application for bail.