POLICE have revealed why officers have been spotted scouring Woodley over the past few weeks.
Last week, The Chronicle published pictures of Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Police officers searching the grounds at South Lake.
A resident told this newspaper they had spotted officers on a number of occasions from the middle of December when two policemen were spotted searching the lake.
On December 11, officers were again spotted in the area combing over a stretch of ground and looking in bushes.
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In recent days, police have also reportedly been seen searching the edges of the lake with submersible equipment.
Dogs have also been used in the force’s search at “various times” over the last few weeks.
The Chronicle asked Thames Valley Police to explain what officers were doing at the site last week but a spokesperson was unable to reveal the cause.
Police have been searching South Lake in Reading
Now, however, a spokesperson has told this newspaper why officers are searching the area.
They said: “The searches are being carried out in connection with the alleged murder of Reece Heffernan in Reading on Halloween last year.
“A number of people have been charged in relation to this investigation and are going through the court system.”
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Seven men and women have been charged in connection with the death of Reece Heffernan.
Four men have been charged with the murder of Reece Heffernan, 22, who died on Halloween 2021 at his home on Romany Lane, Tilehurst.
A 17-year-old boy from Earley was charged with one count of murder, one count of perverting the course of justice and one count of possession of bladed article.
Hamzah Ahmed, aged 18, of Jubilee Road, Reading, was charged with one count of murder.
Police have been searching South Lake in Reading
Tuviah Thompson-Hordle, aged 18, of Brant Close, Arborfield, was charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of a knife in a public place.
Carlos Daniel Capitao Mor Da Fonseca, aged 23, of Fawn Drive, Three Mile Cross, was charged with murder, possession of a bladed article and perverting the course of justice.
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Umer Arshad, aged 23, of Waterloo Road, Wokingham, was charged with one count of perverting the course of justice.
Damien Wozniak, 18, and Madison Henderson, 19, both of Kings Road, have been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
A provisional trial date for this case has been set for Monday, June 27, 2022, and, should it go ahead as planned, could last around six weeks.
A number of hearings to iron out legal arguments are expected before any trial takes place.
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