POLICE believe they have found the body of a suspected murder victim believed to have fallen into a river after a fight.
Northumbria Police say they have provisionally identified the body as that of student John Chipp, 18, of Castletown, Sunderland, but are making further inquiries.
Mr Chipp had been missing since the early hours of Friday, March 19, when, police believe, he had a fight with another man on Sunderland's Queen Alexandra Bridge.
The body was found in the River Wear by a walker several miles away at South Hylton, on the city's outskirts.
A spokeswoman said detectives "were almost certain" it was Mr Chipp.
She also issued a statement on behalf of Mr Chipp's parents, George and Ruth, who said: "We are relieved John's body has been found. Although this is tragic news, it has given us a closure.''
Christopher Weldon, 28, of Parkhurst Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, has been charged with Mr Chipp's murder.
He is in custody and is due to make his second appearance at Newcastle Crown Court on June 15.
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