Man in court accused of killing missing Sandwell woman Lidia Pascale

Police say 26-year-old Lidia Pascale is still missing, however detectives are now treating her disappearance as a murder inquiry.

A man from West Bromwich has appeared in court accused of her murder, while officers continue to question another man.

A property in High Street, Wes Bromwich, remains sealed off as part of the investigation while forensic teams carried out searches of the scene.

Matthew Cherrington, aged 32, was charged with killing Lidia Pascale by West Midlands Police on Sunday.

Cherrington, of High Street, West Bromwich, was not required to enter a plea during a brief hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He was ordered to be held in custody until another hearing takes place at the city's crown court tomorrow.

Officers are continuing to question a 37-year-old man from Wolverhampton on suspicion of murdering Ms Pascale after officers secured a court extension for 36 more hours of questioning.

Relatives of Ms Pascale, who was 26 and had been in the UK for around a year, have been informed of the developments in the inquiry.

Lidia, who was born in Romania, was last seen in West Bromwich.

Police say she is still missing, however detectives are now treating her disappearance as a murder inquiry.

The force is working with Romanian authorities to keep her family informed of the ongoing developments.

Police say Lidia has been in the UK for about a year and stays at addresses in Smethwick and Foleshill, near Coventry.

Superintendent Rich Youds, confirmed that the house had been sealed off as part of the investigation.

Lidia is described as a 4ft 11ins tall white woman, with a slim figure, black shoulder-length straight hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black jacket and white jeans.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.