A man accused of murdering his dad days before Christmas has made his first appearance at Carlisle Crown Court.
Brian James Stanley Smith, 33, was charged following the death of 73-year-old Stanley Smith.
Stanley Smith, of Fell Close in Silloth, was pronounced dead at an address in the town on Monday, December 22.
Police had been called at around 5.35am on that date following the report of an unresponsive man at the property.
Smith’s son, who stands accused of murdering him hours earlier, on December 21, appeared at the crown court this morning.
During a seven-minute hearing, it emerged that the initial preliminary opinion of a pathologist was that Stanley Smith’s death was due to strangulation.
However, Judge Nicholas Barker, who presided over today’s hearing, stated that there would still need to be a full and thorough investigation into the cause of death.
No plea to the murder charge was formally entered by Brian Smith, who attended court remotely, over a prison video link.
He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, and to confirm that he understood a number of legal directions which had been made by Judge Barker.
Brian Smith had earlier listened as a timetable for the progression of court proceedings in the coming months was outlined.
These included the setting of a provisional date for a trial in front of a jury.
This is currently due to start at the crown court on July 20 next year and has been given a time estimate of around seven days.
A judge for the trial has yet to be formally appointed.
Brian Smith, of Acre Dales, Abbeytown, is next due to appear at the crown court on February 23. On that date it is anticipated he will enter a plea to the charge he faces.
In the meantime, Brian Smith remains remanded in custody.
“There is no bail application today,” Judge Barker noted. “Any such application will be made in the future upon written notice.”
