UK UK - GUILTY - Charlotte Murray, 34, Moy, NIR, Oct 2012 *Arrest*

[HayLouise]

Diary: Miller had kept a diary in which he wrote of how someone must have known something of her disappearance and how someone could not just vanish without trace. The prosecution contended this was a sham and that he thought someone may find it and read the notes.

He told the court that these notes were "all genuine" and never once did he "imagine when writing this that it would be read out in court, you charged with murder, by your barrister".

Charlotte Murray murder: Key elements that nailed killer Johnny Miller - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Police probe: Police determined Charlotte was murdered from early on after her disappearance. In their investigation detectives established there was not a shred of evidence to suggest she had disappeared. Their efforts included tracing 41 women with the same name across the UK to ensure they were not "the Charlotte Murray in this case".

Over the years more than 600 people have been spoken to, with help sought from other police agencies, including An Garda Siochana, as well as links to all 45 police services in the UK, with requests for information from over 430 councils and local authorities, health services, charities, airlines, transport companies, including rail networks, social services and HMRC.

Asked if they revealed anything on Charlotte's possible whereabouts, including 10 potential sightings of her, not only in Moy, but also in Birmingham, London, Belfast, Monaghan and Edinburgh, he said all had drawn a blank.

Charlotte Murray murder: Key elements that nailed killer Johnny Miller - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Police interviews: The trial heard extracts from over 800 pages of interviews he had with police since she disappeared in 2012. In the main during interviews, and on the advice of his solicitor, Miller replied "no comment" to the bulk of their questions, put to him in 2015 and 2017, even when he was directly "challenged" as to whether he had "murdered her".

While a detective agreed this was his right, she added that as an experienced officer, with 12 years' involvement in investigating murders, she would have expected Mr Miller "to clear up some inconsistencies", if he was right in saying Charlotte had disappeared, "to help us find the missing person".

The officer also agreed with defence counsel Desmond Hutton, that on occasions Mr Miller was "emotional and visibly upset" and that there was "nothing shocking or unusual" in his solicitor advising him not to answer questions put to him.

At the end of each set of interviews, detectives "asked if he had killed her ... and that was a 'No Comment'", or that they "put a challenge to him as to whether he had murdered her ... that again was a 'No comment'".

Charlotte Murray murder: Key elements that nailed killer Johnny Miller - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Family determination: The heartbroken family of Ms Murray were determined to get to the bottom of what happened her. In an appeal in 2017, marking the fifth anniversary of her disappearance they spoke of how devastated they were over her disappearance.

Charlotte's eldest sister and brother told the court how they had not seen her for a year and a half to two years before the family reported her missing to police in May 2013 after she had been gone for six months. They described her as pleasant and helpful, but accepted she could change while drinking.

They also confirmed that at times Charlotte would disappear without telling anyone, and on one occasion even went abroad on holiday without saying.

Her brother Aiden who said that Charlotte could disappear "for weeks", however agreed with prosecution QC Rishard Weir, while this maybe the case, his sister had "never disappeared for years".

After the guilty verdict on Tuesday the family appealed to Miller to "do the right thing, the honourable thing" and reveal where he had disposed of her body seven years.”

Charlotte Murray murder: Key elements that nailed killer Johnny Miller - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Charlotte Murray’s twin sister Denise made an emotional appeal to her killer who was sentenced to life for murder at Dungannon Crown Court today.

(Video)

Q Radio News on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Charlotte Murray's family plead with killer: 'Where is her body?'




The appeal, read by Ms Murray's identical twin sister Denise outside Dungannonn Crown Court, followed the earlier unanimous conviction of the 48-year-old chef for the murder of his then 34-year-old former fiancee.

A jury found Miller, of Redford Park, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, guilty of killing Ms Murray between October 31 and November 2 2012.

Her remains have never been found.

At the time of her disappearance, Ms Murray and Miller lived together at Roxborough Heights in Moy.

Charlotte Murray's family plead with killer: 'Where is her body?'

 

[HayLouise]

Chef Johnny Miller guilty of murdering ex-fiancee Charlotte Murray

Judge Stephen Fowler QC told 48-year-old Miller, with an address in Redford Park, Dungannon, that "there is only one sentence I can impose in respect of murder, which is life imprisonment, and I impose it".

Judge Fowler added that he would set the minimum tariff he must serve before being considered for release at a hearing in four weeks time.

Sitting just behind Miller, in the public gallery, both his family and that of Charlotte's wept. At one stage Ms Murray's family and friends, including her mother Mary and identical twin sister Denise, began to clap the verdict, but it was soon muted.

Chef Johnny Miller guilty of murdering ex-fiancee Charlotte Murray - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Article from before verdict:


Charlotte Murray: Jury considering verdict

The jury spent an hour and a half of deliberations on Monday afternoon having been directed by the judge to reach a unanimous verdict.

The judge told the jury if they were sure the defendant is telling the truth then they must acquit him.

He also said if they were unsure or did not know where the truth lies then the prosecution had not proved their case.

However if they were satisfied beyond reasonable doubt it was their duty to convict the defendant.

The judge said an alternative verdict of manslaughter would be open to them if they decided Mr Miller was responsible for her death but at the time he did not intend to cause her serious harm.

Jury considering verdict in murder case

 

[HayLouise]

Police welcome today’s guilty verdict but also appeal to anyone with information that may help find Charlotte Murray’s body to come forward #UTV @PoliceServiceNI



Sara O’Kane on Twitter

 

[bronbaby]

Finally after all these years, there is justice for Charlotte. If only her loved ones could lay her to rest.

 

[HayLouise]

The guilty verdict in the case of the murder of Charlotte Murray makes the front page of three of today's papers. #newspaperreview

Wednesday's papers: Plea by murder victim's family



BBC News NI on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

9 October 2019:


NI paper review: Charlotte Murray's family ask killer to reveal location of body

The guilty verdict in the case of the murder of Charlotte Murray makes the front of three of Wednesday's papers.

On Tuesday, Johnny Miller was found guilty of the "cold, calculating murder" of his ex-fiancee.

The 48-year-old from Redford Park in Dungannon killed her between 31 October and 2 November 2012.



Wednesday's papers: Plea by murder victim's family

 

[HayLouise]

9 October 2019:


Killer chef Johnny Miller made Facebook plea after murdering Charlotte Murray


Johnny Miller tried to con people into believing he was desperately worried about Charlotte Murray who had vanished.




It can now be revealed that months after he killed Charlotte, Miller made a heartless plea for information.

He shared a local newspaper article on social media, telling his followers: "Someone must know where she is, please help."

Killer chef Johnny Miller made Facebook plea after murdering Charlotte Murray - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team investigating the murder of Omagh woman Charlotte Murray, have made an arrest.



Police Service NI on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

9 October 2019:


Charlotte Murray: Arrest on suspicion of withholding information

A 47-year-old man has been arrested by detectives investigating the murder of Charlotte Murray.

He was arrested in Moy, County Tyrone, on suspicion of assisting offenders, withholding information and perverting the course of justice.

A number of electronic devices were seized for examination, and the man was released on bail.

Man arrested in Murray murder investigation

 

[HayLouise]

Man arrested in Charlotte Murray murder investigation - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Moy man arrested in connection with Charlotte Murray murder

 

[HayLouise]

11 October 2019:


Heartbroken Charlotte Murray family fear killer chef was controlling her


Heartbroken Charlotte Murray family fear killer chef was controlling her - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

This is the quarry outside Benburb in County Tyrone where police are going to start searching for murdered Charlotte Murray who vanished in 2012. It’s understood diggers will move in this afternoon & the water quarry will be drained. #UTV

(Video)

Sara O’Kane on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

It’s understood the deepest part of the water is 9 metres. Diggers are expected to clear a path & the water drained b4 the area can be forensically searched. The draining process could take up to 1wk. It’s nearly exactly 7yrs since Charlotte Murray vanished without a trace. #UTV

(Video)

Sara O’Kane on Twitter