Man, 23, accused of murdering his Canadian Mormon girlfriend is set to go on trial in September
Man, 23, accused of murdering his Canadian Mormon girlfriend, 19, in a ‘frenzied attack’ days before she was due to fly home is set to go on trial in September
Jack Sepple, 23, is alleged to have killed Canadian teenager Ashley WadsworthSepple appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today via video link He was remanded in custody and is due to enter a plea at the court on March 7
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A trial date has been set for a man accused of stabbing his 19-year-old girlfriend to death in a ‘frenzied attack’.
Jack Sepple, 23, is alleged to have killed Canadian teenager Ashley Wadsworth at his home in Chelmsford, Essex on Tuesday.
Police and paramedics were called to the address shortly after 4pm after receiving desperate 999 calls from neighbours reporting a disturbance.
Sepple was arrested at the scene after police found him in bed alongside Ms Wadsworth’s dead body.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said it seemed Ms Wadsworth had been ‘the victim of a frenzied attack, but the medics couldn’t save her’.
Ms Wadsworth, who had never left Canada, had been due to fly home to see her family just days later.
Sepple, dressed in a yellow and blue prison-issue tracksuit, today sat with his arms crossed across his chest and spoke only to confirm his identity via video link during a seven-minute hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court.
He was remanded in custody and is due to enter a plea at the same court on March 7, ahead of a provisional trial date set for September 5.
Jack Sepple, 23, is alleged to have killed Canadian teenager Ashley Wadsworth, 19, at his home in Chelmsford, Essex on Tuesday
Ms Wadsworth (pictured with Sepple), originally from Vernon, British Colombia, converted to the Church of the Latter-day Saints at age 18 and was described by a fellow churchgoer as a ‘woman of great faith’
Ms Wadsworth, originally from Vernon, British Colombia, converted to the Church of the Latter-day Saints at age 18 and was described by a fellow churchgoer as a ‘woman of great faith’.
She met Sepple through an online dating app and moved to Chelmsford in November 2021, she had revealed on Facebook.
Earlier this year, she posted photos online of her ‘amazing trip to London’, where she had been sightseeing.
The pair enjoyed a tour around London landmarks and another one to Kent, both with Sepple’s family.
Ms Wadsworth had also posted comments about her happiness at being over in Britain.
Her friends and family have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to the teenager who had been a regular churchgoer back in her home country.
Paying tribute, Great aunt Tova Wadsworth said that Ashley was on the ‘trip of a lifetime’ after arriving in the UK from her home in Vernon, British Columbia in November last year.
Ms Wadsworth (left) had been due to fly home to Vernon in British Columbia this week. Her boyfriend Sepple (right) has been charged with her murder
Court artist sketch of Jack Sepple, of Chelmsford, appearing in the dock at Colchester Magistrates’ Court
She said: ‘Ashley was a beautiful young lady and full of love and kindness for all in her life.
‘This was a trip of a lifetime… Nothing of this makes any sense. Her family is heartbroken and struggles to understand.’
Ms Wadsworth was described as a ‘woman of great faith’ as she joined the Church of the Latter-day Saints aged 18.
Fellow churchgoer Daniel Seaman said: ‘She was in England to live with her boyfriend, she was excited to live abroad and she always wanted to get out of the small town life in Vernon, BC.’
Ms Wadsworth’s sister Hailey said in a tribute: ‘My beautiful sister, you are so amazing, your belief in God was so beautiful.
‘You spoke three different languages, you graduated and were an honour roll student always travelling California, San Diego, Mexico, Quebec, England, and all over British Columbia and Alberta.
‘You have done amazing things hunny, you cared so much for your family, you always put us first.
‘You were always coming over everyday to be with your little niece, Paisley, who sure loves her auntie.
‘I’m so happy we were so close and grew up together and spent almost every day of our lives together. I don’t think I ever went a day without talking to you.
‘ I love you so much. I’ll never stop missing you. I keep seeing you and I know you’re here watching out for me.
‘God gained another beautiful angel. I love you so much baby girl.’
Friends have paid more heartbreaking tributes to Ashley on Facebook this week.
Tianna Kowalchuk, who described Ms Wadsworth as her best friend, said: ‘I’m sorry there wasn’t more I or anyone else could do to help you. But God has you in his hands now, we have you in our hearts forever.’
Another friend, Mackenzie Palm, wrote: ‘Since grade 7, you were my best friend, my family and my rock.
‘We went through so many phases together, we did so many silly things together. We made so many memories.’
A third friend, Maleea Ames, said: ‘Ashley Wadsworth, I remember first meeting you when we sat next together in the nail salon talking about life, summer and everything in between.
‘You were so incredibly sweet, beautiful and a literal angel.’
