Trial date set over murders

A PROVISIONAL trial date was set yesterday for a criminology student accused of murdering three prostitutes.

Stephen Griffiths, 40, appeared at Bradford Crown Court via videolink where lawyers fixed a timetable for future hearings and set a provisional trial date of November 16.

During a 29-minute hearing Griffiths, who referred to himself as the “crossbow cannibal” at a previous appearance, spoke only to confirm his name and sat through the proceedings leaning on a desk at Wakefield Prison with his head bowed.

Relatives of his three alleged victims looked on from the jury box.

Griffiths, from Holmfield Court, Thornton Road, Bradford, is accused of murdering Suzanne Blamires, Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth.

The former public schoolboy is charged with murdering the three women, who all disappeared in Bradford.

Judge James Goss QC set a review hearing for July 16 which will take place at Sheffield Crown Court via videolink.

He also set a provisional trial date for November 16 at Bradford Crown Court.