A trial date has been fixed for a 16-year-old boy who is charged with murdering a 19-year-old woman in Bristol. Luka Bennett-Smith died from multiple stab wounds at a residential property in the St Andrew’s area of the city on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the property just before 6.25pm and Miss Bennett-Smith died at the scene. A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, was charged with her murder and appeared before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, his case was heard at Bristol Crown Court before Judge Julian Lambert. The defendant did not attend the hearing. Judge Lambert remanded the boy into youth detention accommodation.
The judge said: “He will appear at the plea and trial preparation hearing on December 20. The trial is fixed on March 10, with a trial estimate of 10 working days.”
Robert Yates appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Tabitha Macfarlane represented the defendant.
Avon and Somerset Police previously said that a forensic post-mortem examination had confirmed that Miss Bennett-Smith died from “a number of stab wounds”.
The force confirmed that a police cordon remained around the property where she died. Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Melen said: “Our thoughts are foremost with Luka’s family at this hugely difficult time.
“We are providing them with support through a specialist family liaison officer and they have been updated with the charging decision, which marks significant progress in this murder investigation.
“The family have understandably asked for privacy as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened over the past 48 hours and we’d ask people to please respect their wishes.”
Chief Inspector Hayward-Melen added that officers in the area would be carrying out additional patrols to reassure the community.