A MAN has appeared in court in England charged with murdering a mother-of-five from Dundee.

Joanne Morley (42)— understood to be a former pupil of Rockwell High School in Dundee—died on Saturday as a result of a blow to the head.

Her husband Anthony Morley appeared before magistrates in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday accused of the murder of his wife at the family home in the town’s Eagle Walk.

Mr Morley was remanded in custody and will next appear at Ipswich Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on July 5.

Prosecutors told the court that Mr Morley was accused of murdering his wife on June 22, a day before police officers discovered her body.

Mrs Morley is believed to have moved to Bury St Edmunds around six years ago from her former home in Dundee.

She is understood to have two grown up sons, two teenage daughters and a baby son, and still has family living in Dundee.

Mrs Morley worked as a barmaid in Bury St Edmunds for a period before finding work with safety clothing and equipment manufacturer Arco Ltd at their base in the town.

Jo Martin, joint managing director of Arco Ltd, said, “She’d worked with us for 21/2 years on our trade counter. She was very well liked, very enthusiastic and a popular member of the team.

“Members of the team were devastated to hear the news and we have counsellors on site at the moment so that our people have someone to talk to about how they feel as they are obviously very distressed.”

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesperson said a number of formal procedures had to be completed before Mrs Morley’s body could be released for a funeral service to take place.

A formal post mortem has been conducted for the Crown but the defence also has the opportunity to instruct their own examination in English law.

A coroner’s inquest into Mrs Morley’s death will also have to be opened and adjourned before the body is released.

It is expected that Mrs Morley’s funeral will be held in Dundee once the formalities have been completed.