A NEWLY-WED man whose wife’s body was recovered from a suitcase admits that he killed her, Bradford Crown Court heard today.
Thomas Nutt, 45, of Shirley Grove, Lightcliffe, appeared before the court this morning on a video link to HMP Leeds where he is remanded in custody.
He is charged with murdering his new bride Dawn Walker, 52, whose body was discovered in a suitcase.
Nutt, who wore a grey round-necked sweatshirt when he appeared before the court from a booth in the prison, was yesterday sent to the higher court by Bradford and Keighley magistrates.
He was arrested on suspicion of murder and then charged with the offence after Miss Walker was found dead close to her home in Lightcliffe on Sunday.
He and is said to have killed her between last Wednesday and Sunday.
Today, defence counsel Abigail Langford, told the court: “The defendant accepts killing the deceased. The issue in the case will be that he didn’t intend to kill her or cause her really serious harm.”
She added: “He accepts unlawfully killing his wife.”
Miss Langford said that Nutt had agreed to be assessed by a psychiatrist because of the circumstances and background to the case.
A seven-day trial was fixed for July 25 next year when Nutt will be represented by leading counsel Stephen Wood QC.
The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said the court would try to find an earlier date or perhaps look elsewhere on the circuit for one.
Nutt will next appear before the court, again on a video link to prison, on February 10 for a plea and trial preparation hearing when he will enter a plea to the allegation of murder.
No application for bail was made at today’s hearing.
Judge Mansell remanded Nutt back into custody until that date.
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