Ex Army medic, 35, appears in court charged with murdering his ‘on-off girlfriend’ after body of mother-of-two was found on road junction with stab wounds to neck, chest and back
- Emma McArthur, 43, found dead in Thatcham, Berkshire, 11.45pm on Thursday
- Mother-of-two’s body was discovered with stab wounds to neck, chest and back
- Christopher Minards, 35, has been charged with one count of murder
A former Army medic appeared in court today charged with murdering his ‘on-off girlfriend’ after her body was discovered on a busy road junction.
The mother-of-two Emma McArthur, 43, was found dead with stab wounds to her neck, chest and back, near Crookham Common and Thornford Park Hospital in Thatcham, Berkshire, at 11.45pm on Thursday.
Christopher Minards, 35, has been charged with one count of murder and one count of being in possession of a knife in a public place.
Minards appeared at Reading magistrates court today, wearing a grey jumper before the magistrates Joanne Corrigan and Yuki Beardmore-Gray who remanded the Army medic into custody.
Christopher Minards, 35, has been charged with one count of murder and one count of being in possession of a knife in a public place. Pictured: Reading magistrates court
The court heard Minards was in an ‘on-off’ relationship with Ms McArthur.
Prosecution counsel Shane Hauschild said: ‘The victim Emma McArthur was aged 43 years and a mother-of-two children. The defendant and the victim were known to one another, they had met on Facebook in June 2019.
‘Paramedics arrived and administered life support but despite their best efforts the victim was pronounced deceased at 12.47am. The defendant was later arrested on suspicion of murder.’
On joining the army Minards was deployed with 4th Rifles and the Welsh Regiment in Iraq. A decade later, he stood charged with killing his ‘on-off girlfriend.’
Emma McArthur, 43, was found at the junction between Crookham Hill and Burys Bank Road near Thatcham, Berkshire, at 11.45pm on Thursday. Pictured: Police at the scene
Remanding the defendant into custody, magistrate Joanne Corrigan added: ‘You are being sent to Reading Crown Court, your first hearing will be tomorrow.
‘You will be remanded in custody, you can leave with the officer today.’
Minards, of Station Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, was set to appear at Reading Crown Court tomorrow.
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