Man charged with partner's murder appears in court

A man appeared before a Crown Court judge today accused of murdering his partner, whose body still hasn't been found.

Paul Hemming, 42, is accused of killing Natalie Hemming, 31, who was last seen in Hemel Hempstead, at around 3pm on Sunday May 1st.

Mr Hemming and his partner lived with their children in Alderney Avenue, Newton Leys, Milton Keynes.

She was reported missing by a relative last Tuesday.

Mr Hemming, who was arrested last Wednesday, was remanded in custody by Judge Michael Kay QC at Luton Crown Court.

He made a brief appearance in the dock wearing a red T shirt. No bail application was made. A plea hearing was set for July 11 with a date for a two-week trial beginning on 24 October.

The search for Ms Hemming, who is white, 5 feet 1, slim with shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes, is continuing.

Thames Valley Police are trying to trace the movements of a black Ford S Max - registration EJ12 UWG - between a quarter to ten on Sunday night into the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday.

The car travelled towards Aylesbury on the A413, then south of Aylesbury on the A41 an then back towards Milton Keynes on the A418.