Shannon's mom to go on trial

2008-04-16 21:25

London - The mother of a nine-year-old British girl whose disappearance sparked a massive three-week search until she was found safe and sound will go on trial later this year, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Karen Matthews will face a jury on November 11 accused of perverting the course of justice and child neglect in relation to the disappearance of her daughter, Shannon, in northern England in February, judge Peter Collier said.

The 32-year-old will be in the dock alongside Michael Donovan, the uncle of her partner, who is accused of the little girl's kidnap and false imprisonment.

Matthews, from the town of Dewsbury, near Leeds, appeared at Leeds Crown Court via videolink from prison where she is being held on remand. Donovan, 39, was not in court, but was represented by his lawyer.

Neither defendant has yet entered a plea to the charges and there was no application for bail. A further administrative hearing was set for the same court on July 11.

Child pornography charges

More than 300 police officers were mobilised alongside the local community to find Shannon after she went missing on February 19 after a school swimming trip.

She was eventually discovered in the base of a bed at Donovan's flat just 1.6km from her home after a 24-day search, sparking jubilant celebrations locally. Donovan was arrested at the flat.

Her mother was arrested and charged earlier this month. She is accused of knowing where her daughter was, but not telling police.

Several members of her extended family have also been arrested and bailed in connection to the case, which during Shannon's disappearance drew comparisons to the search for missing toddler Madeleine McCann in Portugal last year.

Her partner, Craig Meehan, 22, faces unrelated child pornography charges and is in custody awaiting trial.

- AFP