Provisional date revealed for West Bromwich murder trial
A 42-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Damian Howl.
The victim, also aged 42, was spotted slumped in an alleyway off Heath Lane, West Bromwich at around 5.15am on June 3.
He was taken to hospital in a critical condition with a serious head injury and died the same day.
Mr Howl was found near the Heath Lane home of Marcus Parchment who was arrested shortly after the discovery.
The defendant spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.
He was not asked to enter a plea to the charge but his Counsel Mr Antony Schiller indicated it was likely to be not guilty.
Parchment was remanded in custody until July 29 when he will return to court for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
If the matter goes to trial it has a provisional start date of November 25.
