Man appears in court accused of Blackpool murder

  • Granada
Tributes laid for college student Sasha Marsden Credit: ITV Granada

A man has appeared in court accused of murdering a 16-year-old girl whose body was found in an alleyway.

College student Sasha Marsden had been fatally stabbed in the head and face before attempts were made to set her on fire.

The teenager's body was found in Kirby Road in the South Shore area of Blackpool last Thursday night.

David Minto, 22, of Kirby Road, appeared before magistrates in the resort today, charged with her murder.

During the short hearing, Minto, wearing a navy blue jumper and jeans, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court tomorrow.

Yesterday, Sasha's family laid flowers at the scene and later left without comment.

In a statement issued through Lancashire Constabulary, her parents, Gary, 40, and Jayne, 45, from Staining, Blackpool, said: "No words can express how we feel. Our beautiful daughter has been taken from us."