Man, 21, on knifing murder charge

5:58am Wednesday 21st May 2008

A 21-year-old Bradford man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a police station cleaner.

Martin Joyce appeared before Oxford magistrates, accused of the murder of Enayit Khalili, 26, 14 months ago.

Mr Khalili died from a single knife wound to his stomach received when he answered the door to his home in Fiennes Road, Rose Hill, Oxford.

Joyce, of Larch Hill, Odsal, who was wearing a beige jumper over a white shirt, spoke only to confirm his name, age and date of birth during the five-minute hearing.

Anne Howes, prosecuting, told the court police arrested Joyce last Friday on suspicion of the murder of Mr Khalili. He was charged with murder on Sunday night.

Magistrates formally committed the case to Oxford Crown Court.

Lee Reed, Joyce's solicitor, did not apply for bail and chairman of the magistrates, Colin Maguire, remanded Joyce in custody until May 30.

Joyce nodded to family members as he left the dock flanked by the three security staff.

Mr Khalili, who worked part-time as a cleaner at Cowley police station, was stabbed when he answered his door at about 3.30am on March 24 last year.

He was later pronounced dead in hospital after suffering a single stab wound.

Six Afghan men aged between 22 and 36-years-old were arrested on suspicion of murder but all were released without charge.

To mark the first year anniversary of Mr Khalili's death, police offered a £25,000 reward for any information that leads to his killer's conviction.

Mr Khalili arrived in England as an asylum seeker from Afghanistan in 2001 and was later granted permanent leave to remain in the country.

He held a string of jobs in the area and sent money back to his family living in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

l A 61-year-old woman arrested last Friday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in connection with the police inquiry has been bailed pending further inquiries.

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