Vic: Wife of missing farmer to face court on murder charge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2007
Vic: Wife of missing farmer to face court on murder charge

MELBOURNE, Aug 28 AAP - The wife of a farmer missing in suspicious circumstances for
almost seven years will today face a Melbourne court charged with his murder.

Cold case detectives last night charged Margaret Uttley, 52, of Tarneit, with the murder
of her husband Stephen Henry Uttley.

Uttley, dressed in a brown pullover and jeans, pursed her lips and briefly fought back
sobs as she faced a bail justice in an out-of-sessions hearing at the Melbourne Custody
Centre last night.

The bail justice remanded her in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

Uttley did not apply for bail.

Mr Uttley, a father of four, lived with his family on the 93ha Oatbank Farm at Tarneit,
near Werribee in Melbourne's west, until he disappeared on October 8, 2000.

Mr Uttley, 45 at the time, was last seen leaving a friend's barbecue in Werribee.

He was described as a quiet family man who enjoyed socialising with his family and friends.

Police believed Mr Uttley's disappearance was out of character and that he may have
met with foul play.

In a dramatic re-opening of the case last week, police conducted an extensive search
of the family farm and located items including bones which were sent for testing by forensic
experts.

AAP jrd/it/de

KEYWORD: UTTLEY DAYLEAD

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