A MAN in his seventies made his first appearance in court today charged with the murder of an 86-year-old woman in Bradford more than 24 years ago.

Raymond Kay, 70, of Baker Fold, Halifax, is accused of killing Amy Shepherd at her home in Wibsey in August 1994.

The pensioner, who had been remanded in custody after being charged with murder by police on Thursday, appeared behind glass in the dock at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court this morning.

Flanked by two male security guards, Kay spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was dressed in a black shirt and black leather jacket, wearing black half-rimmed glasses, a grey moustache, and short grey hair thinning on the top.

Around ten members of Kay’s family were present in court, some in tears, as the five-minute hearing took place.

Samantha Davidson, appearing on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, asked magistrates to move the trial to Bradford Crown Court for an application for bail hearing.

Tariq Hussain, appearing in defence of Raymond Kay, accepted the request for a bail hearing made by the prosecution.

After a short deliberation with fellow magistrate Anthony Greenwood, bench chair Colin Robinson said: “Raymond Kay you will be sent to Bradford Crown Court to appear at 10am on Monday, December 17.

“Until that time you will be remanded into custody to appear before court at that time.”

Kay was initially arrested in January in connection with the death of Miss Shepherd.

He would have been 46-years-old at the time the alleged offence took place.

Miss Shepherd was found dead in her lounge at the Folly Hall Gardens residential complex on August 2, 1994, where she had lived alone in the ground floor flat for 14 years.

A well-known figure around Wibsey village, she worked as a secretary at Baildon dyeing and finishing firm William Denby and Son before her retirement.

A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Shepherd had died from serious head injuries, and had also been strangled, stabbed and sexually assaulted.

After Miss Shepherd’s death, a murder inquiry was launched and detectives carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area.

More than 1,000 people were interviewed and 278 statements taken in relation to the incident.

At the time following her death, Miss Shepherd was described as a kind, frail, likeable and independent woman by friends and neighbours.

Kay will appear at Bradford Crown Court charged with murder on Monday.