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/7599400.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Shannon mother accused of kidnap | Shannon mother accused of kidnap |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mother of Shannon Matthews, the girl who went missing for several weeks earlier this year, has been charged with her kidnap and false imprisonment. | |
| The new charges were revealed as Karen Matthews appeared at Leeds Crown Court. | The new charges were revealed as Karen Matthews appeared at Leeds Crown Court. |
| The 32-year-old, of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, denies those charges and an earlier charge of perverting the course of justice. | |
| Michael Donovan, 40, also from Dewsbury, pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnap and false imprisonment. | |
| The uncle of Mrs Matthews' former partner, Craig Meehan, also now faces a charge of perverting the course of justice, which he denies. | |
| Mrs Matthews did not enter a plea on child neglect charges. | Mrs Matthews did not enter a plea on child neglect charges. |
| Remanded in custody | |
| Nine-year-old Shannon was found on 19 February, 24 days after she went missing following a school swimming trip. | Nine-year-old Shannon was found on 19 February, 24 days after she went missing following a school swimming trip. |
| The schoolgirl was found in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her Dewsbury Moor home. | The schoolgirl was found in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her Dewsbury Moor home. |
| Reading out the details of the kidnap charge to Mrs Matthews and Mr Donovan, the court clerk said: "On the 19th day of February, 2008, you unlawfully and by force or fraud took or carried away Shannon Matthews against her will." | |
| The false imprisonment charge was read to them as: "Between the 18th day of February 2008 and the 15th day of March 2008 you unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned and detained Shannon Matthews against her will." | |
| The charge of perverting the course of justice said the accused "did a series of acts which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice and that you reported to the West Yorkshire Police that Shannon Matthews was a missing person when you knew where she was and you were keeping her from being found". | |
| Both were remanded in custody until their trial on 11 November. |