Murder accused man appears in court

A man charged with murder after the discovery of human remains has appeared in court.

Michael Bretton, 40, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court earlier charged with the murder of Craig Hurcombe, 40, from Wiltshire.

Remains, believed to be Hurcombe's, were found in the Roemead Road area of Gurney Slade in Somerset on Wednesday, the area he was last seen on 1 January.

Bretton, who is also charged with one count of stalking involving fear of violence against a woman, was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Bristol Crown Court on Monday.

The force said formal identification and a post-mortem examination was yet to take place.

Bretton, of Armoury Road in Shaftesbury, Dorset, was arrested on Monday.

A search had been under way after Hurcombe was reported missing at 10:45 GMT on 10 January, nine days after he was last seen.

Avon and Somerset Police is urging anyone with dashcam footage from Roemead Road, Roemead Lane, Simbriss Road, Pound Lane, Galley Batch Lane, and Golf Links Lane from 18:00 GMT on 1 January until 02:00 on 2 January is asked to contact them.

Officers are also keen to view dashcam footage from Roemead Road from 23:00 on 30 December until 02:00 on 31 December.

Avon and Somerset Police said a mandatory referral had been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, due to the death occurring following previous police contact.

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