Man Accused Of Murdering Scottish Woman In Lapland Remanded By Court

7 December 2016, 13:02

A man has been remanded after appearing in court in Lapland accused of murdering his British girlfriend, police have confirmed.

The 36-year-old Czech national was arrested on Saturday after the body of Rebecca Johnson was found in the Finnish village of Kuttanen.

Ms Johnson, 26, from Burntisland, Fife, was a member of the Santa Safari team which works with Oxford-based tour operator Transun Travel to organise Christmas-themed excursions to Lapland.

A Finnish police statement said: ''Lapland District Court has today imprisoned the suspect of the homicide, according to the claim of the Lapland Police Department.

''A 36-year-old Czech citizen is suspected of killing his 26-year-old long-term partner. The victim is a female citizen of Scotland. The crime is investigated as a murder.''

It is understood the couple lived in Scotland before moving to the Arctic for seasonal work.

Members of Ms Johnson's family have since travelled to Lapland.

The police statement continued: ''The suspect has been co-operative but hasn't been able to clarify a specific motive for his suspected act.

''Police will continue the investigations by hearing the witnesses and the suspect, and by conducting technical investigations.''