Shannon's mother to go on trial with the man accused of her daughter's abduction

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Matthews, 32, is charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

She will go before a jury on November 11 alongside Michael Donovan, who is charged with Shannon's kidnapping and false imprisonment.

Shannon, nine, went missing near her home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in February.

Three hundred policemen were assigned to search for her.

Her mother appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday via a video link from prison.

She sat in a chair behind a table wearing a sky-blue T-shirt under a grey zipped top.

Matthews spoke only to confirm her name and confirm that she could hear the proceedings.

Donovan, 39, from Batley Carr in West Yorkshire, was represented by his solicitor.

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Donovan is charged with the abduction and false imprisonment of the nine-year-old

The hearing lasted ten minutes and there were no applications for bail.

Shannon disappeared on February 19 sparking a massive police hunt until she was found 24 days later in a flat near her home

The charge put to Matthews alleges that she "repeatedly concealed information in relation to the whereabouts of Shannon Matthews in interviews and other contacts with officers with the West Yorkshire Police and claimed to have no knowledge of her whereabouts".

Both defendants will appear at the court again for a plea hearing on July 11.

A number of members of Shannon's extended family have also been arrested by officers investigating the incident. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Craig Meehan, Matthews's former partner, has appeared in court on child pornography charges not related to Shannon's disappearance.

He has been remanded in custody awaiting trial.

Shannon was found in the base of a bed at Donovan's flat, a mile from her home, after a 24-day police search.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, was arrested by officers at the flat.