Police have until late on Wednesday afternoon to release or charge the stepbrother of the Bristol teenager Becky Watts and his girlfriend, who have been arrested on suspicion of her kidnap and murder.
Nathan Matthews, 28, and his girlfriend, Shauna Phillips, 21, were arrested last weekend as police searched for 16-year-old Becky. Detectives were given extra time to question the pair on Tuesday after body parts were found at a house about two miles from Becky’s home.
Phillips was briefly taken to hospital on Tuesday night. An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: “We can confirm that the woman in custody arrested on suspicion of the murder of Becky Watts was taken to hospital last night after feeling unwell in custody. She was seen by a doctor and taken back into custody a short time later.”
Matthews is a delivery driver and claims on his Facebook page that he served in the British army. Phillips posted appeals for information about Becky on social media before she was arrested. They have a young child.
Police are also holding four men and a woman, all in their 20s, on suspicion of assisting an offender. The five were arrested after the remains were discovered.
Members of Becky’s family continued to express horror at what has happened while churches and other religious centres in Bristol made arrangements for local people to pray for the teenager.
Becky’s brother, Dan Galsworthy, 20, posted a message on Facebook describing his sense of loss. He said: “This has left a deep hole in my heart and will continue to haunt me. To everyone messaging and supporting me I haven’t replied to any messages because I simply have no words, I thank you all and deeply appreciate everyone’s support. Love to you all.”
Sarah Bloom, the sister of Becky’s father, Darren Galsworthy, posted on her Facebook page: “He [Galsworthy] is completely and utterly broken and there is nothing in this world of comfort to him. How does a parent ever recover from this? How can a family?”
Addressing the 16-year-old, she said: “So with tears rolling down my face Becky, you beautiful beautiful soul, you have touched so many hearts and changed so many lives! Your shy inverted nature has outshone and touched a whole city and beyond!”
The bishop of Bristol, Mike Hill, said he struggled to understand the crime against Becky. He said: “I feel sure that people both of faith and of no faith will join with me in wishing to support the friends and family of Becky Watts in the light of the deeply shocking and unfolding news of her death.
“They have acted with dignity throughout this awful nightmare since the day Becky went missing. Together with many people, I struggle to understand why there are people who can do such things to a young girl. As the father of four daughters this crime has affected me deeply.”
In a statement released by police on Tuesday, Becky’s father, Darren, and stepmother, Anjie Galsworthy, expressed their horror at the finding of body parts. “To receive such news about our dear daughter and stepdaughter Becky is too much to bear. We have the support of a good family network to help us in these challenging times. We would ask that you treat Becky with the due reverence and allow us to come to terms with our grief in private.”
Statement from Becky's dad Darren and step-mum Anjie Galsworthy http://t.co/YcmOXqI0Nm | #BeckyWatts pic.twitter.com/ZRpUdBYl7g
— Avon&Somerset Police (@ASPolice) March 3, 2015
Police efforts have been spread at search sites across Bristol since Becky vanished from her home in St George, to the east of the city centre, on 19 February. Now they are focused on Barton Court, a cul-de-sac of modern red-brick homes, where body parts were found.
Becky Watts inquiry - police stand guard near the house where body parts were found. pic.twitter.com/qsTWGXUj8a
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 4, 2015
The Barton Court address is about 100 metres from another address that they have been searching connected to Matthews and Phillips.
Temporary assistant chief constable Julian Moss visiting the site where Becky's remains were found. pic.twitter.com/xEV2FkyFxf
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 4, 2015
One local, who did not want to be named but knows Matthews and Phillips, said: “She [Phillips] messaged me on the Friday [20 February] and she asked me if I had seen Becky or I could help with the search.
“She’s just a normal person, they both are. There’s no reason they could do it. I’ve been racking my brains but I just don’t get it. Shauna knew Becky but not particularly well. Nathan is Becky’s stepbrother.”
It is understood that the police are working with officials from the Crown Prosecution Service, a common practice in major incidents. Officers are going through hours of CCTV footage to try to find images of Becky after she vanished and to try to track the movements of a black Vauxhall Zafira car.
Floral tributes have begun to be left close to the house at Barton Court. One read: “RIP Becky Watts.” Another said: “Becky, you will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
Becky Watts - floral tributes near the address where her remains were found. pic.twitter.com/DeTD4Qtgpf
— steven morris (@stevenmorris20) March 4, 2015
