A 51-YEAR-OLD woman appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with the murder of a Berry Hill man.

Joanne Williams, of Meek Road, in Newent, was arrested by police at 10.40pm last Wednesday after the body of 43-year-old Marc Hastings was found.

Mr Hastings was of Hillcrest Road. Williams was remanded in custody until today (Wednesday).

Gloucestershire Police force has voluntarily referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) over previous contact with the pair.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: “The police has voluntarily referred to the IPCC so that they can review police action prior to the victim’s death.”

Anybody with any information should call 101 quoting incident number 514 of August 12.