Detectives investigating the disappearance of schoolgirl Tia Sharp have charged her grandmother’s partner with murder.
“Human error” blamed for lost time
Stuart Hazell, 37, will appear before magistrates today accused of killing the 12-year-old, who went missing in New Addington, south London, more than a week ago.
The youngster’s grandmother Christine Sharp has been released on bail following her arrest on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said.
Officers have also freed Ms Sharp’s next-door neighbour on bail pending further inquiries. Paul Meehan, 39, was detained by detectives on suspicion of assisting an offender
Police arrested the three suspects on Friday after investigators discovered a body inside the house Mr Hazell shares with 46-year-old Ms Sharp, in The Lindens, New Addington, near Croydon.
The property was the last place where Tia was seen alive.
Mr Hazell was charged during the early hours of yesterday after being quizzed by detectives.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Although officers await formal identification of a body found at The Lindens on Friday 10 August, the victim is named in the murder charge as 12-year-old Tia Sharp.”
A massive manhunt was launched for Tia after she was reported missing by her family nine days ago. Around 100 police officers were involved in the search along with members of the local community, proving fruitless for the first week.
Despite visiting Ms Sharp’s property four times, police only discovered the body on Friday. Metropolitan Police South East London Area Commander Neil Basu said “human error” was to blame for not locating the body sooner and yesterday apologised to Tia’s mother Natalie.
A manhunt for Mr Hazell, who had previously been interviewed by police as a potential witness, was launched following the discovery.
He was arrested hours later in the south London borough of Merton after apparently being spotted by a schoolgirl who had seen him buying alcohol in an off-licence.