Sex offender denies murdering teenager
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A convicted sex offender today denied the kidnap, rape and murder of teenager Ashleigh Hall whom he allegedly met on the internet.
Peter Chapman, 33, is accused of strangling the 17-year-old childcare student, of Darlington, after posing as a younger man and befriending her on a social networking site.
At a hearing at Teesside Crown Court today, he also pleaded not guilty to failing to notify police of a change of address, as required by the sex offenders register.
Ashleigh's body was found dumped in a farmer's field near Sedgefield, County Durham, in October.
Chapman was originally charged with manslaughter.