Two men and a woman have pleaded not guilty to murdering Bradford father of two Paul Akroyd who was found in the street with fatal head injuries in the early hours of February 23 last year.

Alex Bates, 18, of Eastfield Gardens, Holme Wood, Bradford; Mohammed Jawaid Khan, 52, of Leylands Lane, Heaton, Bradford; and Kirsty Rushworth, 31, of Walker Avenue, Lidget Green, Bradford, each denied the offence when they made their first appearance at Bradford Crown Court this morning.

A fourth defendant, Rashpal Singh Gill, 39, of Leeds Road, Bradford, was not arraigned on the charge.

The four week trial will start on Monday July 6.

All four accused were remanded back into custody by Judge Jonathan Rose.

The courtroom was packed with family and friends of the defendants for the short hearing.

It is believed that bail applications will be made before a judge in chambers on future dates.

Prosecutor Simon Clegg was told that the Crown must serve its opening note of the case by June 19.

A further case management hearing will be heard in the first week of June if it is needed.

Mr Ackroyd, 37, a father of two, was found with head injuries in Jinnah Court, Manningham, Bradford, and died in hospital a short time later.

Police were called at 3.52am to reports of a man lying in the street injured. A murder investigation was launched following the death of Mr Ackroyd, who was known as Acky.