Trial date set for man accused of murdering woman at Leeds tower-block flat

A man charged with murdering a woman at a block of flats in Leeds has had his trial date set for early next year.

Colin Mann is accused of killing Tracy Davenport at Cottingley Towers, where they both lived, last Friday night.

The 52-year-old was not present at Leeds Crown Court his morning for the brief hearing.

He is yet to enter a plea, but his provisional trial date has been set for February 8.

If it goes ahead, it is expected to last around five days.

No application was made for his bail, given the serious nature of the charge. He is due to appear in court on August 27 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Psychiatric reports on Mann are also to be prepared.

The body of 58-year-old Tracy Davenport was found at the flat on the evening of Friday, July 24.

Officers were called at about 11.40pm by a person expressing concern for someone inside one of the flats.

Police officers quickly attended at the location and on entering a flat, discovered her body.

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T/DCI Eleanor Buchanan of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who is leading the investigation, said: “This has clearly been a very serious incident, and we are investigating the circumstances of what took place at this address.

“Incidents such as this rightly cause concern among communities and I want to assure residents all necessary resources are being used to investigate what took place.”

Anyone who has any information about the incident or who saw or heard suspicious activity at flats on Cottingley Towers from 11pm on Friday evening is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.

Reports can be made via 101 or online at the LiveChat referencing crime number 13260422675.