Two in court over body in suitcases murder
Two people from the West Midlands have appeared in court charged in connection with the discovery of human remains in suitcases in May.
Gareeca Conita Gordon, 27, of Birmingham, and Mahesh Sorathiya, 38, of Wolverhampton, appeared at Bristol Crown Court for a hearing this morning.
Gordon, who appeared via video link, is accused of murdering Phoenix Netts, 28, in Birmingham earlier this year.
Sorathiya, who attended court in person, is accused of assisting an offender, namely Gordon.
Neither of the defendants entered a plea to the charge against them during the hearing.
Judge Martin Picton said a trial, expected to last for two weeks, had been listed at the court on November 2.
He refused an application to transfer the case to Birmingham Crown Court.
Gordon, of Salisbury Road, Birchfield, Birmingham, is accused of murdering Ms Netts between April 14 and May 12.
Sorathiya, of Denmore Gardens, Wolverhampton, is accused of assisting Gordon between April 25 and May 12.
Andrew Smith QC appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Gordon was represented by Mary Cowe and Sorathiya by Eugene Hickey.
The charges relate to the discovery of human remains close to a quarry, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, on May 12.
Last month, officers from West Midlands Police carried out searches at Handsworth Cemetery in Camp Lane, Birmingham, in connection with the case.
