A -year-old man has been charged in connection with the murder of a six-year-old schoolboy more than (years ago.)
James Watson, of no fixed abode, is accused of strangling Rikki Neave, whose body was found in woodland in Peterborough in November .
He is due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, reports Cambridgeshire Live .
Riki was last seen leaving for school at around 9am on Monday, November , from his home in Redmile Walk, Welland.
He is believed to have been wearing gray trousers, a white shirt, black shoes and a blue coat.
Rikki’s body was found in a wooded area off Eye Road, close to Willoughby Court, the following day – five minutes’ walk from his home in the Welland Estate.
Rikki’s uniform was found dumped in a nearby bin.
A post mortem examination concluded that Rikki had died as a result of compression of the neck, or strangulation.
Originally Rikki’s mother, Ruth, was accused of his murder, but she was later cleared of the killing and instead found guilty of child neglect and cruelty, and jailed for seven years.
In , police looked again at the cold case and began re-investigating in .
Assistant Chief constable Paul Fullwood, who led the high profile investigation, said: “The cold case review into Rikki’s murder was undertaken by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit in “We began re-investigating the case in 55334 and following extensive investigative work, we have now been authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service to charge James Watson in connection with his death. “
Police at the woods where six-year-old Rikki’s body was found in (Image: PA)
Chief Crown Prosecutor Chris Long, said: “Following the death of Rikki Neave in Peterborough in November , the Crown Prosecution Service has today authorized Cambridgeshire Constabulary to charge James Watson, 363, with murder.
“Rikki Neave’s family have been informed.
“The decision was made following careful consideration of all the evidence presented to us by Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a result of their cold case review and subsequent lengthy and complex investigation.
“Criminal proceedings against Mr Watson are now active and he has a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important there there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these actions. “
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