Primary school teacher arrested after man's body found buried in backyard
A 42-year-old man whose remains were found buried in the back garden of a house in the British suburb of Northampton died as a result of a stab wound to the neck.
Primary school teacher Fiona Beal is alleged to have murdered Nicholas Billingham between October 30 and November 10 last year.
Northamptonshire Police said a post mortem has now been conducted, revealing Mr Billingham’s identity and the cause of death.
Mr Billingham’s body was found behind the house last week after a search by police.
Beal was arrested at a hotel shortly after midnight on March 16, leading detectives to begin conducting an extensive search of her home.
The 48-year-old defendant was remanded into custody by a crown court judge to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing on April 19.
Forensic officers and specialist search teams, including a cadaver dog, were deployed to the address before the discovery was made.
Northampton’s Eastfield Academy, where Beal worked before her arrest, said they were “shocked and saddened” to hear of Mr Billingham’s death, describing the incident as an “appalling tragedy that will shake our school community”.
Police have urged anyone with any information to come forward.
PA Media
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