Reward of £20k offered in 'no body' murder case

Detectives are treating the disappearance of Julie Buckley as murder

A reward of £20,000 is being offered for anyone with information about the whereabouts of the body of a woman whose disappearance is being treated as murder.

Julie Buckley, 54, from Christchurch, Cambridgeshire was last seen on CCTV at a Budgens shop in March on 28 January.

Although her body has not been found, police charged Karl Hutchings, 47, also of Christchurch, with her murder and he is expected to face a trial in September.

The independent charity, Crimestoppers, is offering the reward and say Ms Buckley's family is in desperate need of answers.

In February, detectives said they were treating the disappearance of Ms Buckley as murder as she had not been seen since January.

Officers said they hoped to find her alive, but evidence suggested she had come to serious harm.

Announcing the reward, Crimestoppers said it was "reaching out to the community to assist in bringing Julie home, offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information about those involved in Julie's murder and the subsequent concealment and/or whereabouts of her body".

"This reward will be payable to anyone giving information directly to our charity which leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Julie's murder."

It added: "... the whereabouts of Julie remains unknown. Her family is in desperate need of answers, yearning for the closure that comes with being able to lay their beloved daughter, sister, and friend to rest."

The accused, Mr Hutchings, appeared before Cambridge Crown Court last month and pleaded not guilty to her murder.

He was remanded in custody until his trial later this year.