Man charged over woman's stabbing

Miss Smailes body was found in a terrace in Leadgate

A 30-year-old man is due in court charged with the murder of a woman who was found dead in her home five years ago.

Durham police said Darren Willis, of Park Villas, Leadgate, near Consett, Co Durham, had been charged with murdering sales manager Julie Smailes.

Miss Smailes' body was discovered in her smoke-filled home by firefighters as they tackled a blaze which police believed was started in a bid to cover up the crime.

She had been strangled and repeatedly stabbed in her end-of-terrace home in Leadgate on 31 October 1996.

Mr Willis was arrested on Wednesday and is due to appear before magistrates on Thursday morning.

A police spokesman said the exact venue of the court appearance would be released on Thursday.