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| Nicola Cross murder accused to go on trial in March | Nicola Cross murder accused to go on trial in March |
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| A 23-year-old man accused of murdering Nicola Cross, who was found stabbed to death in Hertfordshire, has also been charged with kidnapping her two young children, a court has heard. | A 23-year-old man accused of murdering Nicola Cross, who was found stabbed to death in Hertfordshire, has also been charged with kidnapping her two young children, a court has heard. |
| Cross, 37, was found dead at her home in Hemel Hempstead on Monday night by police officers who had been called to a report of a burglary. She had been stabbed to death, suffering two wounds to her chest. Her children were in the house at the time. | Cross, 37, was found dead at her home in Hemel Hempstead on Monday night by police officers who had been called to a report of a burglary. She had been stabbed to death, suffering two wounds to her chest. Her children were in the house at the time. |
| Polish-born Marcin Porczynski, of Hemel Hempstead, was arrested shortly afterwards. He has been charged with her murder and made his first appearance at Luton crown court on Friday. | Polish-born Marcin Porczynski, of Hemel Hempstead, was arrested shortly afterwards. He has been charged with her murder and made his first appearance at Luton crown court on Friday. |
| It can now be reported that Cross’s two children “were present at the time of the events” and that Porczynski has been charged with kidnapping them. The court heard that a boy of six and a girl of three were the victims of a second set of charges of taking or carrying away a person against their will by force or fraud. | It can now be reported that Cross’s two children “were present at the time of the events” and that Porczynski has been charged with kidnapping them. The court heard that a boy of six and a girl of three were the victims of a second set of charges of taking or carrying away a person against their will by force or fraud. |
| Wearing a neon yellow and green shirt, Porczynski appeared in court via video link from prison, where he is on remand, and spoke only to confirm his name through an interpreter. | Wearing a neon yellow and green shirt, Porczynski appeared in court via video link from prison, where he is on remand, and spoke only to confirm his name through an interpreter. |
| During the brief hearing, Judge Michael Kay QC told the court the victim’s husband, Dan Cross, was “in a seriously traumatised state at the moment, from what I’ve heard”. | During the brief hearing, Judge Michael Kay QC told the court the victim’s husband, Dan Cross, was “in a seriously traumatised state at the moment, from what I’ve heard”. |
| The case was adjourned until 4 December when a plea and case management hearing has been scheduled. His trial is scheduled to begin on 7 March at St Albans crown court. |