A MAN is due to go on trial next week over allegations of murder and sexual activity with a child.

Stephen-Alan Nicholson, of no fixed address, will appear at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday, June 18 for the beginning of the trial, following the death of Southampton teenager Lucy McHugh.

The 25-year-old denied the single counts of murder and sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years, and two counts of sexual activity with a child – one of which relates to a 14-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, dating back to 2012.

As previously reported, 13-year-old Lucy's body was found in a wooded area at Southampton Sports Centre on July 26 after going missing from her home in Mansel Road East the previous day. A post-mortem later revealing she died of stab wounds.

Daily Echo:

A murder investigation was launched by police, who taped off a large area of the sports centre following the discovery.

Dozens of floral tributes were left at the scene, while community members also gathered near where Lucy’s body was found to help police in their search for evidence.

In April, hundreds of people attended a special fundraising event Mansel Park to remember Lucy, organised by her mother Stacey White to keep her daughter's memory alive.

The event included a barbecue and music, as well as activities such as a bouncy castle and a hook-a-duck competition.

At the event, Stacey told the Daily Echo: "Lucy loved junk food and fun days.

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"If there was a community activity going, then that's where she would be."

The money raised was split between bereavement charity SAMM, as well as an outside classroom project by Wordsworth School in Shirley.

That followed her funeral in August where hundreds of mourners gathered for a “celebration of life".

Family and friends at the service wore green and blue - the teen’s favourite colours - while heartfelt tributes were read out to the former Redbridge Community School pupil.

In a eulogy read by Reverend Sean Blackman, Lucy’s mum Stacey, said: “Lucy was a little hurricane of smiles and lip gloss, wearing the brightest colours possible, with no care for what anyone thought.

“She was a real individual and never followed the crowd.”

It continued: “Lucy respected everybody regardless of their colour or creed.

“She loved playing football, she loved cooking, she loved making cakes, she was on the gymnastics team."