A MAN accused of murdering a woman in Hanbury is due to stand trial at the end of July.

Lian Wild, 22, who is partially sighted, did not appear in the dock for a preliminary hearing at Worcester Crown Court today because he was not well enough to leave the prison where he has been remanded in custody.

Daren Samat, defending, told the court he had spoken to the prison authorities earlier in the day and they had decided Wild was not well enough to make the journey. Concerns were raised over his fitness to plead when he appeared at Worcester magistrates at the weekend charged with murdering 43-year-old Karen Wild, believed to be his mother.

She was found at her rented house in the village with stab wounds at around 4.30pm on Thursday, January 30, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Stephen Davies, prosecuting, said a trial date had been identified at Birmingham Crown Court starting on July 28 before Judge Patrick Thomas. Both counsel agreed it was important for the case to reach trial before the custody time limit expires on August 1 and Birmingham had a date available within the time.

Judge Robert Juckes, QC, the Recorder of Worcester, said psychiatric reports would be expected to play an important part in the case. He said he would now be looking into the arrangements to transfer it to Birmingham.

Wild is now due to make his next appearance in court for a plea hearing on May 19.