Boyfriend of murdered Vernon teen to stand trial in September

The boyfriend of murdered Vernon teenager Ashley Wadsworth is due to stand trial, Sept. 5.

U.K. media is reporting that Jack Stepple appeared in court in Chelmsford yesterday, Mar. 7.

"He spoke only to confirm his name, sitting blank faced and staring directly ahead of him during the short hearing," EssexLive reported.

Stepple was not asked to enter a plea, but he may have a hearing before the two-week trial starts in September to enter a plea.

According to the BBC, an inquest found that Wadsworth died from a stab wound to her chest.

The 19-year-old Vernon teenager had flown to England last fall after meeting Stepple online several years before.

Wadsworth's cousin Melissa Locke previously told iNFOnews.ca that Wadsworth always wanted to travel and was "fun-loving and caring."

On Feb. 1, Wadsworth was found dead at the home she was staying at with Sepple, in Chelmsford, U.K.

Essex police were called to a disturbance at the house at 4 p.m. that day.

Sepple was found by police on a bloodstained bed next to Wadsworth's body, the Sun newspaper reported. Sepple has remained in custody since.

An online fundraiser to bring Wadsworth's body back to Canada quickly gained traction and has generated $41,000 to date.

Although Wadsworth hadn't lived in the U.K. for long, around 150 people gathered in Chelmsford to honour the teenager for a vigil.

Wadsworth's body was returned to Canada in late February and a funeral, which was also streamed online, was held at the Pleasant Valley Funeral Home, Feb. 23.

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