LONDON – Scottish police on Monday charged a 35-year-old man with attempting to murder a nurse who was found locked in the trunk of her car, where police say she may have been kept for up to 10 days.
Police have said Magdeline Makola, 38, was "severely traumatized" and suffered from dehydration and hypothermia.
The suspect, Justice Ngema, did not enter a plea during a brief appearance at Linlithgow Sheriff Court. He was ordered to remain in custody until his next court date on Jan. 6.
Makola had been reported missing after she failed to show up for work at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Dec. 18. Police said she was last seen Dec. 15.
Officers found her in the car in the Scottish town of Airdrie, where they had been looking because they had tracked transactions made on her bank card to the area. Makola lives in Livingston, just west of Airdrie. Both towns are between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Officers patrolling Airdrie's streets in search of Makola heard cries coming from the car and broke into it to free her.
She was reported in stable condition Monday at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.
Both Makola and Ngema were born in South Africa, police said.
Police had said Saturday that they were looking for someone Makola knew, in connection with the case. But they did not say Monday whether Makola and Ngema were acquainted.
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