THE man accused of murdering Sharon Butler has admitted the charge on the first day of his trial.

Kevin Shepherd appeared before Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday when a jury was set to be sworn in to try the defendant for five days.

Shortly after 10am, defence barrister Tracy Ayling KC requested that she be given time to speak to the defendant before a jury was called in.

By 3pm, the court was informed Shepherd was going to change his and admit a single charge of murder.

Echo: Scene - police cordoned off a section of Whitehouse Meadows as part of their investigation into the incidentScene - police cordoned off a section of Whitehouse Meadows as part of their investigation into the incident (Image: Newsquest)

Shepherd, 54, faced the accusation after Sharon Butler was found dead at an address in Whitehouse Meadows, Eastwood, in November.

Police officers were called to the address at about 9pm on Tuesday, November 7, after receiving reports of an assault.

Officers then located Mrs Butler who had sustained serious injuries in the garden of a property, but despite the best efforts of paramedics, she died at the scene.

Two days later, Shepherd appeared before Southend Magistrates’ Court to deny one charge of murder.

Shepherd, of Whitehouse Meadows, Eastwood, then appeared before Basildon Crown Court in January as preparations commenced for a murder trial.

After changing his plea at the eleventh hour on Tuesday, matters then turned to Shepherd’s sentencing.

Her Honour Judge Leigh said: “You have entered your guilty plea.

“For the reasons I have just explained, we are not sitting tomorrow and I would like to have as much information about you as possible beforehand.

“We are going to move to sentence, and I will sentence you on Monday morning.

“There is only one sentence that can be passed – and that’s the life tariff.”

Echo: Sentence - Kevin Shepherd will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on MondaySentence - Kevin Shepherd will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Monday (Image: Newsquest)

The family of Mrs Butler, 64, previously said in an official statement they had been left “shattered” by her death.

They said: “Our world has been shattered by the loss of our loving daughter and sister.

“Our lives will never be the same without her.

“She never will be forgotten and will be forever in our hearts.”