A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder following the discovery of a missing teenage girl's body in a park in Blaina, Wales, Gwent police announced.
Charges and Court Appearance
The boy, from the Blaenau Gwent area, was arrested after the body was found in the Duffryn Park area of Blaina on 22 June. He is described by police as white British and cannot be named for legal reasons. He is in custody and will appear at Newport magistrates court on Friday, police said.
Victim Identification
Formal identification is pending, but police believe the body is that of 14-year-old Lilly, who had been reported missing. She was last seen on High Street, Blaina, at about 6.50pm on Saturday 20 June. Police released her name with her family's knowledge, as it will form part of court proceedings.
Investigation and Community Impact
Parts of Pilgrims Park, adjacent to the A467 in Blaina, were cordoned off after the body was discovered. Floral tributes have been left near the scene by members of the public. Det Ch Insp Steven Thomas said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lilly at this difficult time. We understand that there has been a great deal of interest in this ongoing investigation. It is vital that people consider how their language, especially comments made online, could affect our ability to bring anyone found to have committed a criminal offence to justice.”
Thomas added that examinations of scenes will continue over the coming days, including at Duffryn Park, where cordons remain. He thanked local residents for their support and patience during this time.
