A woman charged with murdering a ‘well-loved’ dad-of-six on Christmas Day has been remanded into custody following a brief court appearance this morning.
Kirsty Carless, 33, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video link from HMP Foston Hall on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing after she was charged with the murder of Louis Price, 31.
Mr Price was declared dead at a property on Elm Road in Norton Canes, near Cannock, shortly after 3.30am on December 25 after police were called to a report of a man in cardiac arrest.
Wearing a grey T-shirt, Carless, of Haling Way in Cannock, spoke only to confirm she could hear the proceedings.
Judge Michael Chambers KC said she must appear in person at Stafford Crown Court at the end of January to enter a plea to murder.
He told Carless: ‘Your case is being adjourned and the next hearing will be a plea and trial preparation at Stafford on January 31, when all things being equal, you will be asked if you plead guilty or not guilty.
‘In the meantime, you must be remanded into custody.’
Michelle Heeley KC, defending Carless, said there would be no application for bail.
A provisional date for a trial, which is estimated to last two to three weeks, was set for June 2 at Stafford Crown Court in front of resident judge Kristina Montgomery KC.
In a statement released through Staffordshire Police on Friday, Mr Price’s family described him as a ‘well-known member of the community’ who was ‘well-loved’ and always smiling.
They said: ‘He always had time for anyone and would help anyone he could.
‘Louis was a devoted fisherman, he had a passion for fishing and regularly went away on trips with friends and family.
‘He loved football, he played for a team and was a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
