Trial date set for man accused of murdering boy

A man accused of murdering a 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in Huddersfield is due to go on trial in October.

Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim suffered a single wound to the neck and died in hospital following the incident on Thursday.

Alfie Franco, 20, of The Crescent, Kirkburton, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday charged with murdering the teenager and possessing a knife in a public place.

Judge Robin Mairs set a date of 2 October for his trial, which the court heard was expected to take five days.

Appearing via video-link from prison, Mr Franco spoke only to confirm his name and he was not asked to enter a plea to the charges.

He was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the same court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 7 May.

Police said the incident, which happened in Ramsden Street at about 14:45 BST on Thursday, was not gang-related or linked to any wider dispute between groups.

The court was told there appeared to have been a verbal altercation between Ahmad and Mr Franco.

However, they were not known to each other and there was "no history of animosity".

Ahmad had only recently moved to Huddersfield from the South Wales area, according to police.

Meanwhile, the court heard that Mr Franco had strong links to South Africa.

A 22-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman who had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender had been released on bail, police said.

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