THE teenager accused of murdering a former Brightlingsea schoolgirl will appear in court again in April.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of raping and murdering Liberty Templeman in Kerikeri, New Zealand, at the beginning of November.

Liberty, known as Libby, emigrated with her family three years ago for a better life.

A huge hunt was launched after the 15-year-old did not turn up to meet her boyfriend on the evening of November 1.

Her body was found almost 24 hours later beside the Wairoa Stream, in Kerikeri.

Her death prompted grief both in New Zealand and in her Essex home town.

Classmates at Colne Community School, where she had been a pupil for 18 months, held a special memorial service and flooded social networking sites on the internet with messages of love and sorrow.

Many of her parents’ relatives still live in Brightlingsea, and they paid tribute to a beautiful, fun-loving girl.

Her former classmate appeared in court earlier this week, and a date was set in April for a two-day deposition hearing.

This will decide whether he should stand trial for Libby’s murder and indecently assaulting her.

The boy has been in custody since his arrest, and no application for bail has been made.