Sarah Mayhew: body parts search continues after remains found in park

Police are continuing to search for body parts after a woman was allegedly murdered, cut up with power tools and dumped in a park near Croydon.

Remains belonging to Sarah Mayhew, 38, were found in Rowdown Fields in New Addington, south London, after police were called last Tuesday morning.

Gemma Watts, 48, and Steven Sansom, 44, were arrested on Saturday and subsequently charged with her murder and preventing her lawful and decent burial.

On Thursday, the couple were due to appear at the Old Bailey before Judge Philip Katz KC.

Watts, of Featherbed Lane in New Addington, appeared first by video link from Bronzefield prison.

She appeared to have a dark bruise around her eye and spoke only to confirm her identity.

The court heard that both she and Sansom are alleged to have killed Ms Mayhew at a residential property on the night of March 8.

Afterwards, prosecutors claim Ms Mayhew’s body was cut up with power tools and disposed of.

Prosecutor Tom Little KC said there was an “ongoing investigation in relation to the whereabouts of the entirety of the deceased’s body”.

“The deceased’s body was certainly cut up in parts with use of power tools,” he added.

Judge Katz set a plea hearing for June 27 and a provisional four-week trial from February 17 next year.

The Old Bailey judge remanded Watts into custody.

The court was told that Sansom, of Burnell Road, Sutton, south-west London, will appear at the same court at 2pm.

He also faces three separate charges of making indecent images of a child.