Steph Scott raped before murder: court

Accused killer Vincent Stanford has appeared via video link in a NSW court after being charged with sexually assaulting a teacher before her April death.

NSW teacher Stephanie Scott

The man accused of murdering Stephanie Scott (L) has also been charged with sexually assaulting her. (AAP) Source: Facebook

The man accused of killing bride-to-be Stephanie Scott has also been charged with raping the NSW teacher.

Vincent Stanford appeared via video link in Griffith Local Court on Thursday, where he faced additional charges of sexually assaulting the 26-year-old teacher before her death on Easter Sunday.

Three days after Ms Scott disappeared from her workplace, Leeton High School, Stanford, a school cleaner at the school, was arrested and later charged with her murder.

Police laid the fresh aggravated sexual assault charge this week, alleging he assaulted Ms Scott and caused her actual bodily harm between 1.40pm and 2pm on April 5, Easter Sunday.

Ms Scott was at the school to get work in order before leaving for her honeymoon the following week.

She died six days before she was due to wed her fiance Aaron Leeson-Woolley.

After a frantic search by family and friends around the NSW Riverina region, police found a camera with photos of a burned body and blood, allegedly in the back of Stanford's car.

On Friday, April 10, police - reportedly with the help of Stanford's mother and brother - turned the search for Ms Scott's body to Cocoparra National Park, more than 70km from Leeton.

Ms Scott's burned remains were found dumped in bushland, the day before her planned wedding.

Stanford did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned to September 30.


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Source: AAP

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