A businessman charged with killing a Northampton family-of-four appeared to break-down in the dock as he heard details of the case discussed at Northampton Crown Court this morning.
Anxiang Du, aged 54, appeared before a High Court judge today where he was scheduled to enter pleas to four charges of murder.
He stands accused of stabbing to death Jifeng ‘Jeff’ Ding, his wife Helen Chui, and their two daughters, Xing, aged 18, and Alice, aged 12, at their home in Wootton on April 29, 2011.
Du, who wore a white T-shirt and necklace during the short hearing, sat in the dock flanked by five court officers and spoke only to confirm his name.
The court heard no pleas could be entered during the hearing, however, as tests are still being carried out on Du.
Prosecuting, William Harbage QC said: “The first matter that would normally happen is arraignment, but your honour knows the history of this matter and there are inquiries ongoing.”
The matter was instead put back until October, with a trial date set for November.
Du, who sat with his head bowed, appeared to become emotional in the dock at one stage and was handed a tissue by security officers.
He has not yet entered a plea to any of the charges he faces.
During the hearing, Du’s legal team revealed how he suffers from motion sickness and asked for the next hearing to be conducted by video link from prison. But the judge said that would not be practical as an interpreter would still be needed.
It also emerged for the first time how the alleged murder weapon, a knife, was found by police on a sideboard in the kitchen inside the Ding’s home, in Pioneer Close, Simpson Manor, between the sink and the cooker.
The Honourable Mr Justin Justice Flaux warned he was not willing for the case to be put back any further for medical reports.
He said: “We cannot have experts dictating when criminal trials take place.
“It is totally unthinkable for this trial not to go ahead later this year.”
Du’s appearance comes after he was arrested in Morocco and extradited back to the UK to face the charges.
The last hearing, held at Nottingham Crown Court, had to be put back after a Mandarin interpreter failed to attend the hearing on time.
The next hearing, on October 17 at Northampton Crown Court, is now due to hear Du’s pleas, once medical reports are returned, and will hear discussions about Mr Delaney’s statement.