A man charged with murdering a 29-year-old Ellesmere Port woman will face a trial next April if he pleads not guilty.

Craig Andrew Procter, 39, of Shephard Close, Ellesmere Port, is accused of killing Ellia Arathoon, who lives near the town centre.

He will be asked to enter a plea at a hearing on December 2.

Today (Monday, November 7) a Chester Crown Court hearing packed with the deceased’s family and friends heard prosecutors are making plans in the event Procter pleads not guilty, with a provisional trial date set for April 26 next year.

And Judge Roger Dutton, the Recorder of Chester, has ordered Procter must attend the Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) in December.

The order was issued after the accused refused to come out of his cell for his first hearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Friday (November 4) and today declined to attend the video link booth in HM Prison Altcourse, Liverpool, or appear at court in person.

Today’s hearing was intended to decide the position with regards to whether the defendant should continue to remain in custody but there was no bail application by defence barrister Brian Treadwell.