05:10 EDT, 7 April 2021
The first picture of a mother-of-two who was found dead at a road junction with stab wounds to her neck, chest and back has been released by police.
The body of Emma McArthur, 43, was discovered at a remote road junction near Crookham Common, near Thornford Park Hospital, in Thatcham, Berkshire, around 11.45pm last Thursday.
Her on-off boyfriend Christopher Minards, 35, an ex-Army medic, was charged with her murder.
In a tribute released by her family, Miss McArthur was described as spiritual, spontaneous and a free spirit .
This image, released by Thames Valley Police, is the first picture of mother-of-two Emma McArthur, 43, who was found dead at a road junction with stab wounds to her neck, chest
The court heard Minards was in an on-off relationship with Ms McArthur.
Prosecution counsel Shane Hauschild said: The victim Emma McArthur was aged 43 years and a mother-of-two children. The defendant and the victim were known to one another, they had met on Facebook in June 2019. Paramedics arrived and administered life support but despite their best efforts the victim was pronounced deceased at 12.47am. The defendant was later arrested on suspicion of murder.
On joining the army Minards was deployed with 4th Rifles and the Welsh Regiment in Iraq. A decade later, he stood charged with killing his on-off girlfriend.