'My heart goes out to you': Daughter of taxi driver charged with murder of Sian O'Callaghan sends message of condolence to dead woman's family

By Luke Salkeld, Ryan Kisiel and Emily Andrews
Last updated at 9:44 AM on 28th March 2011

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The daughter of a taxi driver charged with the murder of Sian O'Callaghan has sent a heartfelt message of condolence to the dead woman's family.

Christopher Halliwell’s 19-year-old daughter Natasha posted the emotional note on a social networking site after he was charged with murder.

The father-of-three, 47, arrived at court in a prison van this morning, as police trawl through missing persons records in an attempt to identify a second body found after a two-day intensive search of a field.

Charged: Taxi driver Chris Halliwell will appear in court tomorrow over the murder of Sian O'Callaghan

Sympathy: Natasha Halliwell sent a message of condolence to the family of Sian O'Callaghan and that of the missing woman

Police had said they were shown to the spot by a suspect arrested on suspicion of killing Miss O’Callaghan.

Natasha, who knew Miss O’Callaghan, wrote on Twitter: ‘My heart, and my families (sic), go out to all those affected by this especially Sian’s family & any families with missing people awaiting news.’

A friend of Natasha's told the Sun: 'That's the kind of caring person Natasha is. Sian was a young girl going about her business when this awful murder happened in the home town they shared.

'Natasha feels her family's pain although they weren't close friends.'
Earlier, police confirmed they had found the remains of another woman, thought to be aged 23 to 30. But it could take days for her to be identified, as it is believed she has been dead for up to eight years.

In loving memory: People release chinese lanterns in the Polo Ground, Swindon, at the end of a two minute silence in remembrance of Sian O'Callaghan who was found murdered on Thursday

Grief: Well-wishers lit lanterns in memory of Sian, who vanished last Friday night

Officers are still carrying out forensic tests on the bones found near Eastleach, Gloucestershire, and do not expect formally to identify her until today at the earliest.

They had previously found the body of Miss O’Callaghan near Uffington Hill, Oxfordshire, five days after she left a nightclub in Swindon. Police have said they believe it was moved there after she was killed.

Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher, who is leading the inquiry, said yesterday: ‘Bones recovered from Eastleach are believed to be those of a young woman aged between 23 and 30.

‘It has been indicated to me that this young woman was taken from the Swindon area between 2003 and 2005.’

He continued: ‘The remains will now be the subject of further forensic laboratory tests and a post mortem examination.

‘The inquiry team are liaising with the National Policing Improvement Agency’s Serious Crime Analysis Section and the national DNA database in connection with the bones recovered from Eastleach. The police search at the site is expected to continue for the time being.’

Halliwell was formally charged with Miss O’Callaghan’s murder at 9.20pm on Saturday. He had been held for more than 48 hours after being arrested on suspicion of two murders and a kidnap on Thursday.

A joint statement issued yesterday by Wiltshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘At 9.20pm on Saturday, Christopher John Halliwell, aged 47, of Ashbury Avenue, Swindon, was charged by Wiltshire Police with the murder of Sian O’Callaghan.’

Grim discovery: Forensic teams digging at Baxter's Farm near Eastleach, Gloucestershire, discovered bones from the limb of a woman acting on information from the man they are holding in connection with the murder inquiries

Triubes: Hundreds of flowers have been left outside Suji nightclub in memory of Sian O'Callaghan. Sian was last seen alive after leaving the club last weekend

Simon Brenchley, Wiltshire District Crown Prosecutor, said: ‘Having reviewed the evidence, I am satisfied that there is sufficient to charge him, and that it is in the public interest to do so.’

Halliwell will remain in police custody at Gablecross police station in Swindon until his court appearance.

Wiltshire Police have released no further details about the second body they found at Eastleach.

Fine-tooth comb: Police search old boxes and bags of rubbish outside the neighbour's home of a man being held on suspicion of murdering Sian O'Callaghan

Mr Fulcher repeated his appeal for a poacher who saw Halliwell in the Savernake Forest to come forward.

 He said: ‘I would repeat my appeal for anyone out “lamping” or poaching in the Ramsbury area at any time from 3am on Saturday, March 19, to contact the force with any information they might have about suspicious activity, a green Toyota Avensis estate or persons in the area at that time.’

‘I would stress again that I only want information that is relevant to the Sian O’Callaghan inquiry. We are not interested in prosecuting anyone for lamping or poaching.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370610/Sian-OCallaghan-murder-Chris-Halliwells-daughter-Natasha-sends-message-condolence.html#ixzz1Hssou9In