Man charged with murder after body found in woodland
Date: 2024-10-25
A 59-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Kent man Wayne Woodgate, whose body was found two days ago in East Sussex.
Stephen Castle has been remanded in custody by magistrates in Sevenoaks, Kent, in relation to the murder of Wayne Woodgate, 54. He will appear in court today.
A spokesman for Kent Police said today: ‘On Wednesday an investigation into his disappearance led officers to a rural location in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, where a body was located and which has been identified as Mr Woodgate.
‘Stephen Castle, aged 59 years, of Hastings Road, Matfield, was arrested on the previous day. He has been charged with murder and remanded in custody. He will appear before Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court.’
Yesterday, a woodland area was cordoned off as police launched their murder investigation.
Dash-cam footage could provide murder squad detectives with vital clues to the killing of Woodgate, who was last seen getting into a van a week ago before his body was discovered.
Although missing from his home in Kent, Mr Woodgate’s body was found in East Sussex this week.
A spokesman for Kent Police said: ‘Detectives searching for a man missing from Tunbridge Wells are now treating his disappearance as a murder investigation.
‘Inquires to locate 54-year-old Wayne Woodgate have led to the recovery of a body in East Sussex and the arrest of a suspect.
‘Mr Woodgate had been reported missing on October 17. An appeal to help find him was previously issued by Kent Police, following a report he was last seen entering a van in Goods Station Road.
‘Yesterday officers attended a rural location in Peasmarsh, East Sussex, where a body was located.
‘Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of Mr Woodgate have been informed.
‘A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
‘To assist the investigation, police are appealing for dash-cam footage from motorists who may have recently travelled on the A268 between Peasmarsh and Four Oaks.’
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