Steve Wright pleads not guilty to kidnap and murder

Steve Wright has pleaded not blameworthy to kidnapping and murdering a teenage miss successful Suffolk much than 20 years ago.

The 66-year-old is charged with the kidnap and execution of Victoria Hall, 17, who disappeared portion connected her mode location from a nightclub successful Felixstowe successful 1999.

Her assemblage was recovered 25 miles (40km) distant by a canine walker successful a water-filled ditch successful Creeting St Peter, adjacent Stowmarket, 5 days aboriginal connected 24 September.

Appearing via video nexus astatine Ipswich Crown Court, Wright, formerly of London Road, Ipswich, was told his proceedings would commencement connected 2 February 2026 astatine the Old Bailey successful London.

Victoria had been connected a nighttime retired with a person astatine the Bandbox nightclub connected the evening of 18 September 1999 and near the venue astatine astir 01:00 BST the adjacent morning.

They parted ways astatine astir 02:20 BST, which is the past clip Victoria was seen alive, adjacent her location successful Trimley St Mary.

Police launched a ngo persons probe aft Victoria’s parents, Lorinda and Graham Hall, awoke successful the greeting to observe their girl had not returned home.

At Ipswich Crown Court today, Wright pleaded not blameworthy to 1 number of unlawful kidnap by unit oregon fraud and 1 number of murder.

The suspect did not participate a plea for the complaint of the attempted kidnap of a 22-year-old pistillate connected 18 September 1999 due to the fact that it is present “subject to dismissal”.

The proceedings of Wright, who volition stay successful custody until 7 March 2026, is expected to past 4 weeks, and a further lawsuit absorption proceeding volition beryllium held connected 2 December.

Judge Martyn Levett said: “[The proceedings date] whitethorn look immoderate region distant but it volition necessitate an bonzer magnitude of enactment betwixt present and then.”