The owner of a hotel chain and his sister have been charged with murder after the death of their 100-year-old mother over three years ago. Jeremy Mogford, 78, and Sarah Pickering, 71, have been charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder, according to Thames Valley Police (TVP).
The force said the charges relate to the death of Pamela Mogford who died on February 15, 2022, in Bledlow Ridge, Buckinghamshire. Mr Mogford, from Oxford, and Ms Pickering, from Guildford, appeared via video link at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, October 23.
They were released on bail and are due to appear at the same court on March 13, according to TVP.
In a statement issued by a representative for Mr Mogford, he told The Sun: “I have co-operated fully with this investigation and, as I have said to the police, this accusation is complete nonsense. Our mother was nearly 101 years old and died, as her doctor stated, of old age.”
In 2023, Mr Mogford told the Oxford Mail his mother was an adored member of a close-knit family.
Mr Mogford founded a number of independent hotels and opened various restaurants in Oxford. These include the Old Parsonage Hotel, the Old Bank Hotel, Gee’s Restaurant, Parsonage Grill and Quod Restaurant.
His first venture in the hospitality industry was in 1973 when Mr Mogford founded Browns Restaurant and Bar in Brighton. He sold the chain for a reported £35million in 1996.