A MAN appeared in court via video-link yesterday, charged with abducting and killing a woman in Wakefield.

Ioannis Revenikiotis, 27, of Neos Marmeris, Halkidiki, Greece, is charged with killing and, by force or fraud, taking or carrying away Stephanie Hammill against her will on November 29, 2003.

He was remanded in custody by the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Norman Jones, when he appeared at the city's Crown Court via videolink from prison.

He will next appear at the same court on May 3.

A provisional trial date has been set for September 4.

Miss Hammill, 20, a travel agent, was walking home with her fiancé after a night out in Wakefield when they tried to try to flag down a taxi in Balne Lane. A car pulled up and Miss Hammill climbed in the back.

The car drove off before her fiancé could get in.

Minutes later Miss Hammill was found dead in Batley Road.

Revenikiotis, wearing a blue and white shirt and beige trousers, spoke only to confirm he understood proceedings in the 10-minute hearing.

He was also charged with abducting and indecently assaulting a 24-year-old woman in Dewsbury between February 22 and February 24, 2003.

Revenikiotis was extradited to the United Kingdom under a European arrest warrant.