Man accused of killing 15-year-old schoolgirl Janet Commins in court 41 YEARS after her murder
A MAN accused of murdering a schoolgirl appeared in court today exactly 41 years after her body was found.
Stephen Hough, 57, allegedly raped and killed 15-year-old Janet Commins in a school playing field.
After a huge police search her body was found under a hedge in Flint, North Wales on January 11, 1976.
The schoolgirl had gone to a nearby sports centre to see friends following a "domestic tiff".
But Janet was attacked after leaving her friends and her body was found the next day close to a footpath.
Hough, of Flint, was 17 at the time of the alleged murder and appeared at Cardiff Crown Court via videolink and spoke only to confirm his identity.
He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until March 6 for a pre-trial hearing.
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Last September he was arrested more than 200 miles away in Essex after new evidence was found.
It is believed he lived in Flint at the time of Janet’s death.
He had never previously been quizzed by officers in connection with her death.
At the time Senior Investigating Officer Det Supt Iestyn Davies of North Wales Police said: “There have been significant developments to assist police investigations of this nature in the past 40 years and significant changes in the way we approach murder investigations.
“As a result of new information officers executed warrants at two addresses in Flint on September 5 and a local man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and rape.
“This man has not previously been arrested in connection with the 1976 investigation.
“A dedicated team of officers have been working on this investigation and as a result, further evidence has come to light which has caused us to review all the circumstances surrounding the initial investigation.
“Consequently a referral has been made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
“Janet’s family is being supported by specialist officers.”
Janet’s disappearance sparked one of the region’s biggest manhunts at the time.
She arrived home from school on January 7 but stormed out following a row with her mother.
After sneaking out she left a note in her bedroom, saying she was going to the local swimming baths and would return at 8.30pm.
Janet’s father Ted Commins searched the town for her when she failed to arrive home at 10pm that night, before reporting her missing to police at around 11pm.
Her body was found four days later by three young children out walking their dog.
She was fully clothed, but her shoes were found about a hundred yards away.
A post-mortem found she had been brutally sexually assaulted.
Officers quizzed more than 4,000 people while hunting for her killer.
A man was previously jailed for manslaughter after admitting responsibility for her death.
Following her death, the girl’s mum Eileen Commins described her as “a home-loving girl who had everything to live for”.
She added: “She had no boyfriends and was not the type to go gadding about.
“When a tragedy like this hits you, you try to carry on, but all the time it is at the back of your mind.”
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