Man, 39, charged with murdering schoolboy Rikki Neave, six, in 1994 when he was 13 years old may avoid trial because of issues surrounding his extradition from Portugal, court told
- Rikki Neave, six, was found dead near home in Welland, Peterborough, in 1994
- His mother Ruth was originally charged with murder but was later cleared
- Cold case reopened in 2015 and James Watson is first arrested but then bailed
- Traced to Portugal and extradited back to the UK, charged with murder in 2020
- Old Bailey will now hear ‘issues with his extradition’ at hearing in June
A man accused of the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave who was found strangled in woodland 25 years ago may avoid a trial because of problems with his extradition from Portugal, a court heard today.
The youngster disappeared after leaving for school from his home in Welland, Peterborough, on the morning of November 29 1994.
His naked body was found the next day in woods five minutes away from his house with his school uniform – grey trousers, a white shirt and a blue coat – dumped in a nearby bin.
James Watson (left), 38, has been charged with the 1994 murder of six-year-old schoolboy Rikki Neave (right). He may however not face trial depending on ‘issues with his extradition’ back to the UK from Portugal while on bail
James Watson, 39, who would have been 13 at the time, was charged with his murder in February. He is being held at Bedford Prison.
Watson was re-arrested in Portugal on 2 August last year after leaving the country when he was first arrested and bailed in June.
He did not appear at the Old Bailey today for his plea and trial preparation hearing.
Mr Justice Edis told the court it was understood Watson had entered a not guilty plea to murder but that an issue relating to his extradition had complicated his prosecution.
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said James Watson, (pictured) of no fixed address, had been charged with murder
James Watson is pictured as a young boy. He is accused of murdering little Rikki at the age of 13. The schoolboy’s body was found in woodland near his home in Peterborough in 1994
The judge said a hearing on 5 June would be held to determine whether to proceed with a trial.
Mr Justice Edis said: ‘This hearing takes place for the interests of open justice.
‘The prison [video-link] was double booked at HMP Bedford today… so he does not appear.
‘We know it is a not guilty plea. He does not need to be arraigned this morning he can be arraigned at the start of the trial.
‘An order has been agreed for purposes of the PTPH which has been uploaded onto the digital case system.
Ruth Neave is pictured with her husband Gary Rogers in April 2016. She was accused of Rikki’s murder, but later cleared. She admitted to child cruelty
‘The order provides in outline… a hearing for the determination of an issue which arises or may arise out of the circumstances in which Watson was extradited to this jurisdiction.
‘It may mean that he cannot be tried for this case.
‘That will be dealt with on 5 June.
‘It is likely that will be a preparatory hearing which means the losing party would be able to appeal before the start of the trial.
‘The trial is presently fixed for 5 October with an estimated hearing of two months.
‘I have provided for a pre-trial review on September 25 so that the defendant can be assessed as to whether in the circumstances this trial can proceed on 5 October or not and if not whether custody time limits can be extended.
‘They currently expire on 9 October.
‘The trial remains fixed as it was but obviously there is a possibility that it may not in fact proceed on that date.’
Watson, of no fixed address, denies murdering Rikki between 28 and 29 November 1994.
He will return to court on 5 June for a preliminary hearing. A provisional trial date has been fixed for 5 October.