Leeds man admits residential-street killing after altercation, but denies murder
He appeared in court over a video link from prison to enter pleas
A man accused of killing another on a Leeds street after a confrontation has accepted killing him, but denies murder.
Hayden Clarke appeared at Leeds Crown Court this morning for the brief hearing, charged over the death in Seacroft in July.
The 27-year-old, of Halton Moor Road, was on a video link from HMP Manchester where he is being held on remand.
He formally entered a not-guilty plea to murder, but accepted being guilty of manslaughter.
This was deemed unacceptable by the Crown, so he will now stand trial on January 12 next year where a jury will decide if he is guilty of murder. It is expected to last around a week.
He was remanded back into custody.
It follows an incident on Thursday, July 9 in which Mark Shaw was seriously assaulted and left with critical injuries in the Ramshead Crescent area of Seacroft.
The 43-year-old was taken to hospital for medical treatment but later died from his injuries.
Clarke had initially appeared before Leeds Magistrates’ Court charged with an offence of Section 18 assault. That charge was then amended to murder.