Jan 3 2013 by Dave Goodban, Flintshire Chronicle
Clive Sharp, accused of the murder of Catherine Gowing, arrives at court
THE man accused of killing Flintshire vet Catherine Gowing will appear before a Crown Court judge next week to enter a plea – as police vow the search for her body parts will continue.
Former Deeside High School pupil Clive Sharp, originally from Sealand, is charged with the 37-year-old’s murder and is due at Caernarfon Crown Court.
Mark Bridger, 46, of Machynlleth, who is accused of abducting and murdering five-year-old April Jones from the town, will also appear at Caernarfon on the same day.
Sharp, 46, of Bethesda, Gwynedd, was charged with murder on October 19, a week after Ms Gowing was last seen alive at Asda Queensferry.
On October 18 her burnt-out car had been found abandoned in woodland off Pinfold Lane in Alltami, two miles from her home in Cae Isa, New Brighton.
Specialist search teams found her body parts in a shallow pool off Manor Road in Sealand known at the Lum on October 31, and more remains were discovered on the banks of the River Dee three miles away at Higher Ferry two days later.
North Wales Police said the hunt for Miss Gowing’s remains is the biggest in the force’s history, with 7,000 man-hours being dedicated to the search by the end of November.
The quarry off Pinfold Lane was combed for days and police also searched a house in Meadow View, Sealand, as part of the investigation.
Underwater search teams from North Wales and Cheshire took part in the hunt, as well as dozens of police officers and sniffer dogs.
In early December search teams were camped at a fishing pond know as the Trap off Ewloe Place in Buckley.
But they didn’t find anything and the majority of Ms Gowing’s body is still to be recovered.
Police have since scaled down the search, but say they will continue to investigate information from the public.
A spokesman said the hunt is ‘ongoing, but not continuous’.
Catherine, originally from County Offaly in the Republic of Ireland, had been living in Flintshire for about 18 months after qualifying from a university in Budapest, Hungary.
She worked at Evans Veterinary Practice in Clayton Road, Mold.
North East Wales coroner John Gittins said the inquest into Ms Gowing’s death will be adjourned until after the court case.
Anyone with information is asked to call North Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.