Man charged with murder after woman found in tent in churchyard

Paul Neilson, 30, of no fixed address, charged with the murder of Colette Law

A man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a woman’s body in a tent in a churchyard.

Colette Law (26), from Greenock, Scotland was found in a tent on Monday 17 July in the grounds of St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Spalding.

Paul Neilson, 30, of no fixed address, has now been charged with Colette’s murder. He has been remanded into custody, and was due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court this morning (July 24).

Colette Law. Photo: Lincs Policeplaceholder image
Colette Law. Photo: Lincs Police

Police are still appealing for witnesses – especially anyone who was in Spalding town centre throughout the day and into the evening on 10 July, who may have witnessed an altercation between a man and a woman, to come forward.

Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski, Senior Investigating Officer for Lincolnshire Police, said: “We believe there may be people who were in the town who have witnessed something which might help our ongoing investigation, who we have not yet spoken with.

“It might be that you don’t realise that what you saw or heard is important; we’d ask that you think back, or view mobile phone or dashcam footage, and get in touch with anything that might be relevant and allow us to decide.

"Any piece of information can prove crucial in an investigation, and we’d rather have as much information as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101, visit the dedicated website https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM23C97-PO1 or email [email protected]. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers-uk.org online or call 0800 555 111 anonymously.

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