Claire Holland: Man charged with murdering mother-of-four who went missing 10 years ago

Darren Osment will appear at Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow
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A man has been charged with the murder of Claire Holland, who went missing while on a night out in Bristol city centre 10 years ago.

The mother-of-four was last seen leaving pub Seamus O’Donnell’s on June 6, 2012, before being reported as missing a few days later.

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Despite several mass searches and appeals for information, her body has never been found - but on Tuesday, Avon and Somerset Police hailed a ‘significant development’ in the case.

And late tonight (August 3), the force announced it had charged a 40-year-old man with Claire’s murder. Darren Osment, of Chessel Drive in Patchway will appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Claire Holland (Police handout)Claire Holland (Police handout)
Claire Holland (Police handout)

Claire, from Lawrence Weston, was 32 years old at the time she went missing. Her family have repeated calls for answers on her disappearance - and in June, on the 10th anniversary of her disappearance, they held another appeal.

Information from that appeal could have helped police to a ‘pivotal moment’ in their decade-long investigation.

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Det Supt Gary Haskins, head of Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “This is a pivotal moment in our investigation and we have updated Claire’s family now that a man has been charged with her murder.

“We’ll continue to provide any support they may need through our specialist family liaison officer.”

Osment was arrested on Tuesday and quizzed by detectives in custody. The Crown Prosecution Service then authorised the police force to charge Osment with one count of murder.

Claire Holland pictured on CCTVClaire Holland pictured on CCTV
Claire Holland pictured on CCTV

Ben Samples, Senior District Crown Prosecutor with the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit, said: “The authority to charge follows a complex investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Team, which was supported by the Complex Casework Unit.

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“An extensive review of all the evidence gathered has led us to conclude that our legal tests to commence a prosecution have been met.”

He added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Darren Osment are active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

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