A police liaison officer in the case of murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman has been committed for trial on charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Detective Constable Brian Stevens, 42, along with Louise Austin, 32, a Crown Prosecution Service clerk, appeared before magistrates in Bedford on Tuesday after conspiracy charges were brought against both last week.
Both were released on bail to appear at Luton Crown Court on September 23.
The detective provided personal support to the family of Jessica Chapman after the schoolgirl and her best friend Holly Wells were murdered a year ago in a case which shocked Britain.
Jessica and Holly, both 10, disappeared from Soham in Cambridgeshire on August 4 last year. Their bodies were found in a ditch 13 days later after a huge police search.
Ian Huntley, a former school caretaker, has been charged with the murders and is due to stand trial next month.