What happened to Kent PCSO Julia James?
Man charged with murder of 53-year-old who was found dead in April
A 21-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of police community support officer Julia James, who was found dead near her home in Kent last month.
The 53-year-old mother of two was walking her dog when she is believed to have been attacked on a footpath on the edge of Ackholt Wood, in the village of Snowdown, near Dover.
Callum Wheeler, from Aylesham, was arrested on Friday. Today, at Medway Magistrates' Court, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address. Wheeler was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What do police know?
James had been working at home before taking a walk towards Akholt Wood on Tuesday 27 April. Members of the public discovered her body at around 4pm, with her Jack Russell, Toby, “waiting by her side”, reports The Times. A post-mortem examination found that she had died of significant head injuries.
As part of the investigation, officers scoured woodland and fields close to where her body was found, carried out random vehicle stops and were advised by the National Crime Agency on specialist forensic search techniques. They were also seen searching an old coal mine as part of their search for evidence.
Ten days after her death, police arrested Wheeler and said they were not “actively” seeking any further suspects. They have, however, issued a fresh appeal for witnesses, saying “detectives were confident some people who were in the area at the time of Ms James’s death have yet to come forward”, reports the BBC.
The broadcaster said the police had received about 1,000 pieces of information from the public.
‘A beautiful nod to Mum’
James leaves behind a 31-year-old daughter, 23-year-old son and infant grandson. Her daughter, Bethan Coles, who also works for the police, ruled out a vigil for her mother last week, saying the family would “prefer all police resources to be concentrating on the investigation”.
Instead, mourners left candles on their doorsteps to remember James - a gesture described by Coles as a “beautiful nod to Mum in a way that doesn’t intrude on the police investigation”. A minute’s silence was also observed by Kent Police.
‘Where is the uproar?’
Both James’s family and commentators have questioned why the killing has not triggered the level of public outrage that followed that of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who was murdered while walking home in London in March.
Posting on Facebook last week, James’ cousin Samantha Griffin asked: “Where is the uproar about my beautiful cousin? Where is the huge outrage and pouring of despair? Where are the vigils and protests about her murder?”
Echoing that sentiment, The Times columnist India Knight asked: “Is James’s death somehow less horrifying, less tragic, than the death of a young, photogenic woman?”
James’ family launched a social media campaign, #justiceforjulia, to help to keep the murder investigation in the public eye.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sorcha Bradley is a writer at The Week and a regular on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. She worked at The Week magazine for a year and a half before taking up her current role with the digital team, where she mostly covers UK current affairs and politics. Before joining The Week, Sorcha worked at slow-news start-up Tortoise Media. She has also written for Sky News, The Sunday Times, the London Evening Standard and Grazia magazine, among other publications. She has a master’s in newspaper journalism from City, University of London, where she specialised in political journalism.
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The new powers to stop stalking in the UK
The Explainer Updated guidance could help protect more victims, but public is losing trust in police and battered criminal justice system
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Warriors' vs 'guardians': the pitfalls of police recruit training in the US
IN DEPTH American police training fails to keep pace with the increasingly complex realities that today's officers face
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Derek Chauvin, killer of George Floyd, reportedly stabbed in prison
Speed Read Chauvin was convicted of Floyd's murder in 2021
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nicola Bulley: police under fire for releasing personal information
Speed Read Disclosure was 'avoidable and unnecessary' and led to 'breakdown of public confidence', College of Policing finds
By The Week UK Published
-
Protest politics: when should police intervene?
Talking Point Calls for law change after shouts of 'jihad' on UK streets found not to be terrorism or public order offences
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Orwellian nightmare’: passport database to be used to catch thieves
Talking Point Policing minister wants to use personal data to crack down on shoplifting crime wave
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Journalists in UK courts: question of transparency?
Under the radar Proposed changes to justice system include excluding reporters from rape and sexual assault trials
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Met Police clean-up: more than 1,000 officers suspended or on restricted duties
'Eye-watering' figures show scale of challenge to restore public trust
By Harriet Marsden Published