LONDON – A 36-year-old British woman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Malaysian-born Deborah Chong Mee Kuen – whose headless body was found 350km away from her home.
Jemma Mitchell, who appeared in the dock of Court 1 at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing yesterday, pleaded not guilty to murdering Chong between June 10 and 27 this year.
UK media reports that judge Anthony Leonard set a provisional four-week trial for September 26 next year and denied bail.
A further hearing has been set for December 23 this year for the defendant to attend via video link.
Mitchell was charged at the Willesden magistrates’ court on July 11 for killing Chong, whose head is still missing.
She was arrested in the multicultural township of Kilburn here, a 45-minute drive from Chong’s neighbourhood in Wembley.
On June 27, Chong’s headless body was found in the woodlands in Salcombe, Devon, 350km from her home.
The 67-year-old had been reported missing on June 11.
Initially treated as an unexplained case during investigations led by Devon and Cornwall police, inquiries by the force in south Devon and the London area led to a murder probe launched by the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime command.
A post-mortem conducted at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on June 28 has yet to ascertain the cause of death, police told the media.
Chong had been living in Wembley for over 30 years, according to reports.
Speculation on what led to her death includes robbery and hate crime.
The pensioner has been described by neighbours and friends as a staunch Christian, friendly and helpful, and yet trusting and naive.
Formerly of Kuala Lumpur, Chong, who was single, studied at Ampang Road Girls’ School and Convent Bukit Nanas. – The Vibes September 30, 2021
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