'Upskirt' suspect, 20, charged with murder of mum killed while walking her dog

18 September 2023 , 15:50

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Claire Knights, 54, was murdered while out walking her dog (Image: PA)

A suspected voyeur has been charged with the murder of a mum killed while walking her dog.

Claire Knights, 54, was initially reported missing from the village of Upstreet, near Canterbury in Kent, on August 23 this year. The talented artist - described as a "trailblazer in life" - was believed to have been walking her springer spaniel, Zebulon, from her village to the Minnis Bay area of Birchington. Her body was discovered near Birchington three days later.

An inquest into her death heard that she had been found by family members, who had been conducting their own search alongside police officers and other emergency services. A post-mortem investigation gave her cause of death as drowning and blunt-force trauma.

Police have charged 20-year-old Harrison Lawrence-van Pooss (Kent Police / SWNS)

Police said her springer spaniel was found running on the beach without a collar or lead. Today, police charged 20-year-old Harrison Lawrence-van Pooss, of Margate, Kent, with her murder. He was also charged with voyeurism following an investigation into a separate incident in which 'upskirt' images of a woman were covertly taken on Tuesday August 22 in Birchington. He is due to appear in court later today.

A family statement released by Kent Police said: "Claire was a loving mum, partner, daughter and sister. An amazing contemporary artist, a trailblazer in life. She loved animals and in particular her spaniel, Zebulon. We are struggling to come to terms with the fact she is no longer with us. We wish to thank friends and the community for their support and kind words."

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Uwe Derksen, director of The Margate School, where Ms Knights studied, paid tribute to his former student, saying: "She was an outstanding, exceptional artist and student, and anyone who had the privilege to see her work would no doubt agree." A Kent Police spokesman said: "Detectives investigating the death of a woman near Birchington have charged a man with murder.

"Claire Knights, 54, was initially reported missing from the village of Upstreet on Wednesday August 23. Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate arrested a man on suspicion of murder the following day. Following extensive enquiries, Claire was found deceased in an area between St Nicholas At Wade and Minnis Bay on Friday August 25.

"Today, Harrison Lawrence-van Pooss was charged with murder. He was also charged with voyeurism following an investigation into a separate incident in which 'upskirt' images of a woman were covertly taken on Tuesday August 22 in Birchington."

He is due to appear via live link at Medway Magistrates' Court.

Ryan Merrifield