This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7337258.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Shannon mother in neglect charge | Shannon mother in neglect charge |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The mother of Shannon Matthews has been charged in connection with the nine-year-old's disappearance. | The mother of Shannon Matthews has been charged in connection with the nine-year-old's disappearance. |
| Karen Matthews, 32, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, faces charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice. | Karen Matthews, 32, of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, faces charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice. |
| Shannon vanished on 19 February and was found 24 days later after one of the largest missing person hunt's West Yorkshire Police had ever conducted. | Shannon vanished on 19 February and was found 24 days later after one of the largest missing person hunt's West Yorkshire Police had ever conducted. |
| Ms Matthews will appear before Dewsbury magistrates on Wednesday. | Ms Matthews will appear before Dewsbury magistrates on Wednesday. |
| She was arrested on Sunday evening and questioned by detectives at Wakefield police station. | She was arrested on Sunday evening and questioned by detectives at Wakefield police station. |
| 'Fair trial' | 'Fair trial' |
| Peter Mann, spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "We have carefully considered all of the evidence in the file and decided there is sufficient evidence to charge Karen Matthews with perverting the course of justice and child neglect. | Peter Mann, spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "We have carefully considered all of the evidence in the file and decided there is sufficient evidence to charge Karen Matthews with perverting the course of justice and child neglect. |
| "We will continue to keep this case under constant review." | "We will continue to keep this case under constant review." |
| The hunt for Shannon Matthews lasted three weeks and involved 250 officers | |
| Mr Mann said despite huge interest in the events surrounding Shannon Matthews, Ms Matthews "has the right to a fair trial". | Mr Mann said despite huge interest in the events surrounding Shannon Matthews, Ms Matthews "has the right to a fair trial". |
| Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, is accused of abducting Shannon. | Michael Donovan, 39, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, is accused of abducting Shannon. |
| He faces charges of kidnap and false imprisonment and a provisional trial date for him has been set for 11 November. | He faces charges of kidnap and false imprisonment and a provisional trial date for him has been set for 11 November. |
| Mr Donovan, who was formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan and was arrested after Shannon was found at his flat on 14 March. | Mr Donovan, who was formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan and was arrested after Shannon was found at his flat on 14 March. |
| Mr Meehan's sister, 25-year-old Amanda Hyett, and his mother Alice Meehan were also arrested on Friday. | Mr Meehan's sister, 25-year-old Amanda Hyett, and his mother Alice Meehan were also arrested on Friday. |
| Ms Hyett was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender while Ms Meehan, 49, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Both were released on police bail. | Ms Hyett was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender while Ms Meehan, 49, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Both were released on police bail. |