A 24-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder a young mother who suffered gunshot wounds to the stomach at her Bradford home.

Hasan Khan, of Newlands Avenue, Fagley, Bradford, appeared at Bradford Crown Court today via a video link from Leeds Prison.

He denied a charge of attempting to murder Ashleigh McPherson on May 16 this year.

Khan pleaded guilty to having a firearm, a shotgun, with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely murder, on the same date.

But prosecutor Philip Standfast told the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, the pleas were not acceptable.

Mr Standfast said the plea to the firearms offence had been entered on a basis that the intent had been to commit affray, not murder.

He added: "That is not acceptable to the Crown."

Short-haired Khan, who was wearing a grey casual top and trousers, clasped his hands together on a table in front of him and listened carefully to the proceedings during the 12-minute hearing. He spoke clearly to confirm his name and enter his pleas.

A trial date had already been fixed for October 27 and Mr Standfast said the issue in the case would be intent. He said identity was no longer an issue.

The prosecutor said he would be discussing with senior police officers whether other potential defendants would be tried. This would be influenced by phone cell site evidence.

He accepted that custody time limits ended on November 16 and the trial date must be maintained if at all possible

Khan's barrister, Mohammed Nawaz, said other issues were to be discussed, but if there was only one defendant the trial should finish within a week.

Ashleigh McPherson, 22, suffered two gunshot wounds to her stomach during an incident at her home in Longfield Drive, East Bowling, Bradford, on the afternoon of Friday, May 16. She underwent emergency surgery but her injuries were not life-threatening.

Judge Thomas remanded Khan in custody until his trial.