Two people are to face charges over a mortuary photograph of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala which appeared on social media. 

Wiltshire Police said Sherry Bray, 48, of Charles Street, Corsham, has been summonsed for three counts of computer misuse, perverting the course of justice and sending an indecent/offensive message.

Christopher Ashford, 62, of Page Close, Calne, has been summonsed in relation to six counts of computer misuse.

Both will appear at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on July 10.

The image, circulated extensively on social media, is purported to show the Argentinian striker’s remains at the Holly Tree Lodge mortuary in Bournemouth after the star’s death in a plane crash.

Daniel Machover of Hickman & Rose, lawyer for the Sala family, said: “Emiliano’s family have been deeply upset by the circulation of this image and hope that whoever is responsible is brought to justice.

“But while the family has suffered enormously since his death, their priority is to find out exactly how Emiliano died, and establish who or what may be to blame. They plan to take full advantage of the inquest court system’s ability to reveal the truth about suspicious deaths in order to prevent future similar deaths.

“Emiliano Sala was a talented footballer whose tragic and untimely death has deeply affected millions of people worldwide and raised serious concerns about the way small charter flights are organised and regulated – and also about the nature of the modern football industry.”

Sala, 28, had just signed for Cardiff City when he disappeared with the pilot of the Piper Malibu private plane when it crashed in the English Channel north of Guernsey on January 21.

Sala’s body was recovered on February 6 but pilot David Ibbotson, 59, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been located.