A WOMAN charged in connection with the alleged murder of businessman Guy Hedger has appeared at court.

Helen Keeping, who is also known as Helen Cooper, was charged with assisting an offender last month.

On Tuesday morning, she appeared before a judge at Winchester Crown Court.

Keeping, 40 and of Verney Close, has not yet entered a plea to the allegation against her and is due to appear at the same court again in September.

Mr Hedger, 61, died after suffering a wound inflicted by a shotgun at his home in Castlewood, St Ives, in the early hours of Sunday, April 30.

It is alleged that intruders had entered the property before the shooting. Mr Hedger was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at hospital.

Kevin Downton, who is 40 and from Winterborne Stickland near Blandford, 41-year-old Jason Baccus and 44-year-old Scott Keeping, both of Verney Close in Bournemouth, are all charged with murdering Mr Hedger.

None of those charged with murder have yet entered pleas and are due to appear at Winchester Crown Court next month.