SIAN O'CALLAGHAN: Hundreds to walk in Sian's memory (From Swindon Advertiser)

SIAN O'CALLAGHAN: Hundreds take memorial walk for Sian starting at Suju nightclub in Swindon

9:55am Friday 1st April 2011 in News

HUNDREDS of people are expected to take part in a memorial walk for murdered Sian O’Callaghan tonight.

The walk has been organised by friends of Sian and will retrace some of her steps the last time she was seen alive in the early hours of Saturday, March 19.

Sian, 22, was last seen leaving the Suju nightclub in Old Town shortly before 3am and was not seen again. Her body was discovered over the county boundary in Uffington, Oxfordshire, the following Thursday.

Her friends will be taking part in the walk to not only pay tribute to the office worker, but also to unite the town once more in her memory.

Friend Dean Mayo, who set up the Facebook group organising the event, said: “I ask the whole community to come one more time together, to not be strangers but to become as one, where we can remember the life of a Swindon angel and where we can see together one more time a town full of love, thoughtfulness and belonging.”

Those taking part will holding photographs of Sian and some will be carrying candles.

“I ask the whole community to come one more time together, to not be strangers but to become as one, where we can remember the life of a Swindon angel.''

Related links

• SIAN O'CALLAGHAN: Man to appear in court accused of killing Sian

- Dean Mayo friend of Sian's

The group also hopes to collect donations to hand to Sian’s family with the aim of setting up a permanent memorial in her name.

Last Saturday, thousands of people gathered at the Polo Ground to release lanterns and balloons in tribute to Sian.

The doorway of Suju also became a makeshift shrine – where thousands of bouquets of flowers, teddy bears, candles, cards and letters were left by friends and family.

Shelley Walker, 31, of Nythe, took part in the lantern lighting and will also be joining the walk this evening.

She said: “I will be walking with my four-year-old son and pushing my eight-month-old baby girl to show them how wonderful the community in Swindon is.

“I didn’t personally know Sian, but I have been so moved by her story.

“The way the town has come together over this is magnificent – her friends and family have done her proud.”

The walk will begin at 8pm and continue through to 10pm. Those taking part should meet outside Suju in High Street, Old Town, shortly before 8pm.

For more details on the walk, log on to the Facebook group A walk through Old Town in memory of Sian O’Callaghan at www.facebook.com.

l Christopher Halliwell, 47, of Ashbury Avenue, Nythe, has been remanded in custody after being charged with Sian’s murder. He is due to appear, via video-link, at Bristol Crown Court on April 8 for a plea and case management hearing.

POLICE STILL TRYING TO ID SECOND BODY POLICE are testing DNA extracted from bones of the second body found in the murder investigation.

The human remains were discovered in Eastleach last weekend and Wiltshire Police are now putting the DNA evidence they have found through a national database with the hope of finding the identity of the woman.

Forensic officers found the remains in a field near the Gloucestershire village on Saturday after digging started on Thursday.

They believe the remains belong to a woman aged between 23 and 30 who was abducted from the Swindon area between 2003 and 2005.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.