Schoolboy's plea over Colchester murders due next month

A schoolboy accused of murdering two people in separate knife attacks will be asked to enter a plea in six weeks' time.

The 16-year-old was arrested on Tuesday at the same riverside footpath in Colchester where Saudi student Nahid Almanea, 31, was knifed 16 times on June 17 last year.

It is alleged that three months earlier the youth murdered James Attfield, 33, who was stabbed more than 100 times in a park in the town.

The two deaths sparked fears a killer was randomly striking after police said there were "striking similarities" in the murders but nothing to link the victims.

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court via video link from the Feltham young offenders unit.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood proceedings.

Judge Charles Gratwicke adjourned the case until July 13 for a plea and case management hearing.

He was remanded in custody.

The boy's parents sat in court quietly as proceedings took place.

Over the weekend Essex Police carried out fresh searches for the alleged murder weapon in the River Colne off the Wivenhoe Trail outside Colchester.

Click below to watch Serena Sandhu's report