Woman up in court charged with cleaning up alleged murder scene

A woman has appeared in court accused of cleaning up following the alleged murder of a 'loving dad' found dead in a woodland in north Manchester.

Stephanie Lester, 31, of Lancashire Hill, Heaton Norris, Stockport, is charged with assisting an offender in connection with the murder of Ashley Walsh between January 7 and January 14 this year.

Lester is accused of cleaning up a property ' with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person who had committed the offence of murder' following the death of Mr Walsh sometime between January 7 and January 14 this year.

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Mr Walsh, from Failsworth, went missing on January 7, 2022. He was last seen on Kintore Walk in Collyhurst at around 11pm.

The 34-year-old's body was later found a short distance away in a wood in Sandhills Park. During a brief hearing at Manchester magistrates' court on Wednesday afternoon Lester spoke only to confirm her name.

The case was adjourned until May 18 at Manchester Crown Court and she was granted unconditional bail. Aaron Evitt, 33, of Brentnor Road, Manchester, and Gerrard McGlacken, 45, of Kintore Walk, Manchester have been charged with Mr Walsh's murder.

A trial has been provisionally set for Monday, July 4.

Following Mr Walsh's death his family paid tribute to him, describing him as a 'loving son, brother and dad'.

In a statement, they said: "Ashley, you have been tragically taken from us & our lives will never be the same. He was a loving son, brother & father that was loved by so many and will be deeply missed. Rest in peace Ashley, you will be forever in our hearts."

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