A teenager accused of the murder of Sean Annandale in Golcar has made his first appearance over a video link to Leeds Crown Court.
Initially the case was discussed without the 17-year-old on the screen in court today because the link was not connecting, but some minutes later he did appear briefly and was told a timetable was being set for his case.
The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC remanded the teenager, who cannot be identified to youth detention accommodation after being told there was no bail application in his case.
He is accused of the murder of Mr Annandale, 22 who died in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary shortly after he was found stabbed in Elmfield Avenue in the early hours of last Sunday.
Jason Pitter QC representing the teenager said the trial was likely to last around seven days.
The custody time limit for the youth is February 24 but Judge Collier said because of the age of the defendant an earlier trial would be preferable if one is available. He told counsel he would consult with the Presiding High Court judge for the North Eastern Circuit on that.
A plea and case management hearing was set for November 25.
A second defendant, Shervin Soltani, 23, of Hawthorne Way, Shelley, who is charged with assisting an offender was also due to appear at the court via a separate link to HMP Leeds at the same time but when that link could not be made his counsel said he would notify him of what had happened.
He was remanded in custody in his absence but Benjamin Lawrence representing him said a bail application was likely to be made in due course for him.
Remanding the teenager Judge Collier told him there must be a defence statement prepared for him by the next hearing in November and warned him should a bail application be made in the future and granted he must attend court when necessary.
The teenager said: “I’m not expecting bail as it is, so it’s alright.”
