A MAN accused of murder and attempted murder at his Keighley home will claim self defence at his trial.

Grzegorz Dzierzak, 34, pleaded not guilty to both charges when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court today.

Dzierzak, who had the proceedings translated by a Polish interpreter, is accused of murdering Edgarzas Maslaukas and attempting to murder Igor Jazveniuk on October 26 last year.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at well-built Dzierzak's home in Chapel Lane, Keighley.

He clasped his hands in front of him and spoke quietly but firmly as he denied the charges.

His barrister, Stephen Wood, told the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, during the 15-minute hearing that the defendant's case was self defence.

Mr Wood said two, or probably three, men went to the defendant's house intent on violence.

He added: "There is an awful lot of prosecution evidence which supports the fact that it was the defendant who was attacked."

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said a trial date had been fixed for April 15 and was due to last at least five days. He said many witnesses would need interpreters and court equipment would be required to show CCTV footage.

Mr Sharp said further scientific evidence, including DNA analysis, would be served within 21 days.

The defence was given until February 13 to make a bad character application, and January 26 to provide a defence statement.

Judge Thomas told clean shaven Dzierzak, who has short brown hair and was wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey tracksuit bottoms: "You know the trial of your case is listed on April 15. That date remains."

The defendant was remanded in custody.

Police were called to the scene of the incident by the ambulance service, shortly before 4am on Sunday, October 26, after reports of men being injured in a disturbance.

They found two men with stab wounds and Mr Maslaukas was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Jazveniuk was taken to hospital and his condition was initially described as serious but improving.

An inquest, held a month after Mr Maslaukas's death, heard how a man with stab wounds was found collapsed outside the flats in Keighley. Mr Maslaukas was discovered lying on a hard standing area.

The inquest heard he was pronounced dead a short time later at 4.30am and had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Two post-mortem examinations had been carried out on Mr Maslaukas, whose body was to be repatriated to his family in Poland. The inquest was adjourned pending the completion criminal proceedings.