UK mother charged with murder of four-year-old daughter

A woman accused of killing her young daughter was remanded into custody in the UK this afternoon.

Laura Fletcher, 22, appeared at Wirral Magistrates’ Court over the drowning of four-year-old Chloe.

The court heard that Chloe – whose body was recovered from her home in Wallasey, Merseyside, yesterday – was murdered sometime between April 26 and 30.

Fletcher, of Oakdale Avenue, dressed in a large white T-shirt, spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth.

No plea was entered.

The next hearing will be at Liverpool Crown Court on May 21.

Jenny Williams, prosecuting, told the court that, when police arrived at the house, they found Chloe dressed and lying on her mother's bed.

Fletcher’s solicitor, Sarah Fergusson, made no application for bail.

The defendant was charged with murder after nearly two days of questioning by detectives.

She left the family home in the early hours of Wednesday to report the nursery pupil’s death from a public phone box half a mile from their house.

Reporting restrictions were not lifted during today’s hearing.