AGONY OF TRAGIC SAM'S BOYFRIEND; He tells of 'disbelief' as remains are identified.

Byline: Jack Mathieson

THE boyfriend of tragic Samantha Wright told of his agony yesterday after police confirmed her remains had been found.

Simon Sawers said he was "numb" and had reacted to the news in "sheer disbelief".

Earlier this year, a missing persons inquiry was launched to try to trace Samantha, 25, of Stenhouse, Edinburgh, after it emerged nobody had seen her since the previous June.

Police found human remains in a garden in the city's Duddingston on Monday night.

Yesterday, officers confirmed the remains were Samantha's, following forensic tests.

Hours later, a 57-year-old man appeared in court in connection with the discovery.

Frustration Simon, 22, a mechanic from Leith, wrote on his Facebook website: "I find myself in absolute numbness posting this message in sheer disbelief. Words alone cannot explain my frustration and upset."

Simon met Samantha in Edinburgh when they shared a taxi home after helping a drunk woman lying in the street.

He dated her for nearly three months, up to the time she was last seen alive.

He continued to call at her home after she disappeared but eventually concluded he had been "chucked" and that Samantha had returned to her family in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Simon wrote yesterday: "I am greatly honoured to say that Samantha was part of my life. I am saddened that it was only a period of months that we knew each other but in such time, we grew close.

"I would like to extend my thoughts and sympathies to Samantha's family. May Samantha rest in peace, xxxx."

Robert Chalmers, 57, appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Chalmers, of Duddingston, Edinburgh, was said to have committed the offence between June last year and October this year at the city's Magdalene Drive.

Represented by defence agent Andrew Houston, he made no plea or declaration when he appeared briefly before sheriff Gordon Liddle.

His case was continued for further inquiry and he was remanded in custody.

Chief Inspector Paul Bullen said last night: "It is with great sadness that we bring our missing person investigation to a close and must now begin a new line of enquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding Samantha's death.

"We still, however, do not know what happened to her between being viewed on CCTV footage in the east end of Edinburgh and being found in Magdalene Drive."

He added: "Anyone who has information is urged to contact police immediately."

CAPTION(S):

VANISHED: Tragic Samantha and, inset, her grief-stricken boyfriend Simon