Woman charged with the murder of Mee Kuen Chong

Detectives have charged a woman with the murder of Mee Kuen Chong, 67, from Wembley, who was found dead in Salcombe. 

Jemma Mitchell, 36, of Brondesbury Park, Brent, was arrested on Tuesday, 6 July.

She appeared in custody at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Saturday, 10 July, and appeared the Old Bailey on Tuesday, 13 July. 

Mitchell, appeared before Judge Mark Lucraft QC at the Old Bailey by video link from Bronzefield prison. She is accused of murdering Ms Chong - known as Deborah by her friends - and then travelling 250-miles from London to Devon to dump her headless body.

Mitchell spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth.

Judge Lucraft set a plea hearing for September 28 and remanded the defendant into custody. 

Mee Kuen Chong, 67, was found in an area of woodland near to Bennett Road in Salcombe, South Devon on Sunday, 27 June.

Mee had been reported missing from her home in London on Friday, 11 June. Her death was initially treated as unexplained with enquiries led by Devon and Cornwall Police.

A post-mortem examination took place at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital on Monday, 28 June. A cause of death has not yet been ascertained.

On Tuesday, 6 July, further enquiries undertaken by Devon and Cornwall Police in South Devon and the London area led to a murder investigation being launched by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

Crime scenes remain in place at two residential premises in North West London and at woodland in South Devon. Police searches are likely to continue over the coming days.

Mee was originally from Malaysia but had been living in Wembley for over 30 years. Her family has been updated about this development and are being supported by specially trained officers.