A 13 year old boy was remanded into secure local authority care for a week by a court yesterday, charged with the murder of schoolgirl Jade Matthews.
The boy spoke only to confirm details of his identity and that he understood the charge during a six minute hearing before South Sefton Youth Court in Bootle, Merseyside.
But afterwards his defence solicitor, Mr Frank Dillon, said the boy who cannot be named for legal reasons emphatically denied the allegation.
The youth stood blinking nervously in the dock as the court clerk put to him the charge that he murdered nine year old Jade at Netherton in the county of Merseyside on July 7th.
The prosecutor, Mr Cuthbert Regan, opposed bail for the youth and applied for him to be remanded into local authority care.
Mr Dillon made no application for bail and supported the application for a care order.
Mr Rex Whit row, solicitor for Sefton council, applied for a secure accommodation order, which was granted by the bench chairman, Mr Jim Dixon.
The boy, dressed in a black tee shirt with a green palm tree motif, a turquoise and purple jacket, blue jeans and white trainers, was allowed to sit as the court formalities were conducted.
His step father sat in the front row of the court, close to the boy.
The hearing took place at the youth court of the modern Bootle magistrates court building on a first floor landing screened off from the rest of the courtrooms. Police officers were on guard outside the courtroom.
After the hearing, Mr Dillon made a short statement in which he said. "My client, who is 13 years of age, has been charged with the murder of Jade Matthews.
"He emphatically denies the allegation. May I please appeal for a dignified and restrained approach to the reporting of this tragic case.
"My client is entitled to the presumption of innocence which is the very cornerstone of our system of justice.
"It is vitally important that my client is afforded a scrupulously fair trial and that nothing is said, done or published which is likely to impede the course of justice and the due process of law.
"Any further comment at this time would be inappropriate."
Jade disappeared after going out to play near her home in Eaton Avenue, Bootle, 10 days ago. Her battered body was found 1/12 miles away on the little used Bridle Road railway sidings early the following morning.
Fifteen minutes after the end of the hearing the boy was driven away in a police van from the court, watched silently by a crowd of about 50 people who had gathered outside.
As the hearing was taking place the area police commander issued an appeal for calm to local people.
Supt Ian Latimer said. "I would ask the community, community leaders and the clergy, with whom we work so closely, to continue to show and encourage the level of compassion and dignity which so typifies them."