A MAN and woman have appeared before Bradford Crown Court charged with the murder of Stephen Kershaw whose body was found at an address in East Bierley, Bradford, on September 16.

Sarah Pearson, 22, and Ian Mitchell, 34, both of Shetcliffe Lane, East Bierley, will stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court on February 28.

Pearson was before the court on a video link to New Hall Prison while Mitchell is remanded in HMP Leeds.

Both are charged with murdering Mr Kershaw, 65, who went missing on September 13.

They appeared before Bradford and Keighley magistrates on Friday and were remanded in custody to the crown court.

Pearson and Mitchell are also charged with fraud.

The allegations were not put to them at today’s hearing before Judge Andrew Hatton.

He adjourned the case until October 21 for a full plea and trial preparation hearing.

Stephen Wood KC, Pearson’s counsel, asked that she be produced at court on that date.

Safter Salam, representing Mitchell, said his client was content to appear on a video link.

It was confirmed during the hearing that the first available trial slot was at Newcastle Crown Court on February 28 next year.

Judge Hatton explained that if the case was tried at Bradford it could not be heard before August or September next year which would be outside the defendants’ custody time limits.

The trial is expected to last seven to ten days.

Judge Hatton remanded the defendants back into custody following the short hearing this afternoon.