Kiaran Mark Stapleton, 20, has been charged with the Boxing Day murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve at Salford, Greater Manchester.
Stapleton, in handcuffs, gave his name as “Psycho Stapleton” as he was produced in court Monday morning. The 20-year-old from Ordsall in Salford was arrested by the Greater Manchester police on Thursday morning. He was the fifth person arrested.
Stapleton, who turns 21 on January 28, was remanded in custody by the City of Manchester magistrates’ court for 24 hours. His case will be sent to Manchester crown court for trial.
The prosecution said it would oppose bail, but no bail was applied for by the defence on Monday. “Bail can only be considered by a crown court judge,” said prosecutor Ben Southam.
The police and Crown Prosecution Service jointly announced their decision to charge Stapleton with murder at 7 pm GMT Sunday. “There is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction,” CPS chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal said.
The Manchester police said the investigation into the 23-year-old Lancaster University student’s murder was still ongoing. “The fact we charged someone does not mean the investigation is complete,” a senior police officer said.