A NANTWICH man, held in custody since June, has been charged with the murder of Wirral pensioner Alice Rye.

Kevin Joseph Morrison, 59, of the Pinfold Caravan Site, Wettenhall Road, Poole is alleged to have killed the 74 year old widow at her home in Spital in December 1996.

At a court in Birkenhead on Tuesday he was remanded in custody for two weeks. There was no application for bail.

Morrison had been detained on holding charges of attempted handling and perverting the course of justice.

Two months ago he appeared before Wirral magistrates charged with perverting the course of justice by dispoosing of a knife believed to have been used in the murder and attempting to handle a stolen watch and jewellery belonging to Mrs Rye.

This week those charges were dropped at the request of prosecutor Peter Frost.

But Morrison does face other unrelated matters involving dishonesty and under the Sexual Offences Act.

He was represented by solicitor Jeremy Rawson who agreed that committal proceedings be set down for six weeks time.

Morrison showed no emotion during the ten minute hearing. He spoke only to confirm his address.

Reporting restrictions were not lifted.

Alice Rye was stabbed to death. She had been tied up and left semi-naked in bed.

A number of personal items of jewellery were missing from the house. They included an eight inch old bracelet and two 24 inch gold and silver chains. A gold watch and brooch were also missing.

Mrs Rye's death shocked the local community in Spital and sparked a massive police enquiry.

The murder was featured on Crimewatch and more than 4,000 inquiries were made in the manhunt that followed.

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