A MAN appeared before magistrates yesterday to answer murder charges in connection with a fatal stabbing at the weekend.

Grzegorz Dzierzak, 34, of Chapel Lane, Keighley, is accused of murdering Edgaras Masliuskas, 23, at an address in Chapel Lane, early on Sunday.

He is also charged with attempting to murder a second man, also aged 23.

Dzierzak stood in the dock flanked by security guards, and confirmed, his name, address and date of birth with the help of a Polish interpreter.

With close-cropped hair and wearing a dark blue top and bright blue trousers, he signalled to three people in the public gallery, one of whom tearfully called out to him as he was led away.

Imran Khan, prosecuting, told the court that the dead man had been stabbed six times with a knife and had been pronounced dead very shortly after the incident.

Alias Yousaf, for Dzierzak, said he was entitled to apply for bail for one of the offences, but was not seeking to do so at this hearing.

"There may well be an application for bail at crown court," he added.

As the charges were read out, it emerged that the incident had taken place at Dzierzak's home address in Chapel Lane.

Magistrate Vicky Reynolds told Dzierzak: "You understand that these offences can only be dealt with at the crown court, so we are sending you for trial at the crown court.

"You will appear there tomorrow morning. You understand that bail is not available to you for these offences, so you will be remanded in custody until tomorrow morning and appear at the crown court then."

The short hearing at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court began shortly after 10am and was over minutes later.

Police were called to the Keighley street by the ambulance service shortly before 4am on Sunday, after reports of men being injured in a disturbance.

There they found two men with stab wounds. Mr Masliuskas was pronounced dead at the scene. The second man is in hospital, where his condition is described as serious but improving.

Dzierzak will appear before a judge at Bradford Crown Court today.