A 66-year-old man accused of kidnapping and murdering 17-year-old Victoria Hall over 25 years ago has appeared at the Old Bailey for a hearing in the case.
Steve Wright pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing at Ipswich Crown Court to the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall, who vanished after a night out in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in September 1999.
The Disappearance of Victoria Hall
Victoria, from Trimley St Mary, Suffolk, left her home on the evening of September 18, 1999, for a night out with a friend at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe.
She was last seen walking home alone in the early hours of the morning, but never made it home. Her body was discovered five days later in a ditch in Creeting St Peter, around 25 miles from where she was last seen.
Court Proceedings
Wright, formerly of London Road, Ipswich, appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire on Wednesday.
He is also accused of the attempted kidnap of another woman in Felixstowe, but has not yet entered a plea for that charge.
Mr Justice Bennathan confirmed that Wright’s trial will begin on February 2, 2026, at the Old Bailey. A further case management hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Wright, wearing a grey sweatshirt, was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
Background of the Case
The case remained unsolved for more than two decades, with Suffolk Police reopening the investigation in 2019. Wright was eventually charged in June 2024 following a detailed review of forensic evidence and witness statements.
Authorities continue to appeal for anyone with information about Victoria’s disappearance and murder to come forward.
