Christopher Rice, 35, appeared in court for a second time on Thursday, charged with the murder of his nine-year-old daughter, Minnie Merriman. Minnie was found injured just after midnight on August 3 at the Elliot industrial estate in Arbroath, Angus, where the family had reportedly been camping nearby.
Rice, of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, made a private appearance at Forfar Sheriff Court where he did not enter a plea. He was remanded in custody, and the date of his next court appearance remains unconfirmed.
Minnie's family released a statement through Police Scotland expressing their devastation. "We are devastated with the loss of our beloved, absolutely incredible, beautiful and brave Minnie Moo," they said. "Our family asks that our privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time."
Flowers were left at the industrial estate as officers investigated the incident in the days following Minnie's death. Emergency services, including four ambulances, were called to the estate in the early hours of August 3. Minnie and three others were taken to hospital. Rice was taken separately, later discharged, and subsequently arrested.
Separately, NHS Tayside is investigating claims that staff accessed Minnie's medical records without clinical need or permission. A spokesman for the health board stated, "NHS Tayside is currently investigating the circumstances of an alleged data breach, which happened in a working clinical area where staff access patient information." The board indicated that any data protection breach would be recorded, investigated, and potentially reported to the Information Commissioner's Office if proven.
