Murder accused Ben Hughes could stand trial next year charged with killing a woman.

Hughes, 38, of Appledore Close, Greenside, Gateshead, made his first appearance at Newcastle Crown Court accused of murdering Laura Robson. The charge was not put but a timetable for the case was set out.

Hughes, appearing in court on a video-link from prison, was told there will be a plea and trial preparation hearing in August and a trial date was fixed for January next year, with a time estimate of seven days.

Judge Paul Sloan KC told him: "I'm adjourning your case to a further pre-trial hearing. As you have heard that has been listed on the 21st of August and you will attend that hearing by prison video link, as you have today.

"I've listed the case for trial. It is fixed for the 14th of January next year. You will be remanded in custody pending the next hearing.

"You should understand, if you have committed any offence or offences arising out of this allegation, the sooner you tell the court, the better for you. The longer you leave it to tell the court if you have committed any offence, the worse it will be for you, the more severe the punishment, in other words the longer you are likely to spend in prison."

Police received a report of a disturbance at a house on Appledore Close, in Greenside, at about 10.20pm on Monday night. Emergency services attended and found a woman with serious injuries consistent with being caused by an assault.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Laura, 37, was pronounced dead a short time later.

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