bbcA man accused of murdering a woman stabbed in the neck in Birmingham could face trial in May.
Djeison Rafael appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video link from HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, charged with the murder of Katie Fox.
The 34-year-old man was stabbed on Smallbrook Queensway shortly before 21:00 GMT on November 7 and subsequently died in hospital.
Wearing a gray jumper, Rafael, 21, spoke only to confirm his name during the 15-minute hearing in front of Judge Simon Drew.
He sat forward during the hearing, rising briefly at one point before returning to his seat.
Prosecutor Michael Brady said the trial, which is expected to last two weeks, will be held before a Superior Court judge and a date has been set for May 5.
The court heard that psychiatric reports would need to be collected before the trial began and the judge told the defendant he would then have to appear to plead guilty.
The judge said: “Mr. Rafael, I will adjourn your case and it will be included next January 16.
“You can attend via video link from whatever prison you are in. I know you have recently been transferred.”
As well as Ms Fox’s murder, Mr Rafael, of Rosedale Avenue in Smethwick, is also charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm on October 27 and November 7, as well as possession of a Stanley knife on November 7 and assaulting a detention escort officer on November 8.
West Midlands Police have appealed for information from anyone who knows more about what happened.
