Man, 47, is charged with murder of missing woman who is feared dead

A man has been charged with the murder of a missing woman who is feared dead as police search for her body.

Julie Buckley, 54, from the village of Christchurch in Cambridgeshire, has not been seen since late January.

Cambridgeshire Police said officers “have always aimed to find her alive, but evidence suggests she has come to serious harm”.

Police declared the case a no-body murder investigation on Friday.

The force said on Sunday that 47-year-old Karl Hutchings, of Christchurch, has been charged with her murder.

Detective Inspector Richard Stott said police have been trying to piece together Ms Buckley’s movements before she disappeared.

He appealed for anyone who has seen her in the past few weeks to get in touch.

“We know she has links to places in the surrounding area including March, Manea and Chatteris so I would urge people who live in those areas to consider if they have information that could be of use to our inquiry,” he said.

“We are in touch with family of Julie and specially trained officers are keeping them up to date on the police inquiry at this very difficult time.”

A court officer said Hutchings appeared before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday and is next due to appear before Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday.

Cambridgeshire Police said on Monday that a 49-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both from Christchurch, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and are being held in custody.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigation team via the dedicated online portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/35SA020125C04-PO1

Anyone without internet access is asked to call 101 and quote Operation Dragonfish.