Pair face trial over murder of Vietnamese woman

Two men accused of the murder of a young Vietnamese mother, whose body was found in a burning car, face a trial that could last more than a month.

Emergency services were called to Success Road in Shiney Row on Wearside in the early hours of August 15 after a vehicle was reported to be on fire.

They found the body of Quyen Ngoc Nguyen inside, a 29-year-old woman from the Killingworth area of North Tyneside.

Stephen Unwin, 39, of St Oswald's Terrace, Houghton, and William McFall,50, of Waterloo Road, Blackpool, have been charged with murder.

They appeared at Newcastle Crown Court this morning via video link to HMP Frankland.

The men were not asked to enter pleas to the charge during the hearing.

The court heard the estimated length of time the trial should take isaround five weeks.

Judge Paul Sloan QC ordered that the trial should take place on February 26 next year.

A further pre-trial hearing will be held on November 13.