Shane Mays of Leigh Park charged with murder of Louise Smith from Havant appears in court

A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of 16-year-old Louise Smith.

By Steve Deeks

Published 29th May 2020, 10:53 GMT

Updated 29th May 2020, 16:22 GMT

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Shane Mays, 29, of Ringwood House, Somborne Drive, Leigh Park, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court this morning charged with murder on May 8.

Mays, wearing a black T-shirt, only spoke to confirm his name and did not enter a plea.

He was remanded into custody by district judge Gary Lucie and is due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday, June 2.

As reported, Louise went missing on VE Day, May 8, and had last been seen in Leigh Park at around midday.

Her body was found at Havant Thicket on May 21 and police said she was formally identified two days later.Police carried out searches at Havant Thicket for several days before finding the girl’s body.

A 29-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on bail.