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LONDON - An American man will stand trial in February for the murder of New Zealander Catherine Marlow after pleading not guilty to the charge today.
US citizen Matthew Fagan appeared via video link at London's Central Criminal Court to deny murder.
The unemployed 31-year-old initially pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the south London offices where Hawke's Bay woman Ms Marlow was working on her day off on January 29, 2007.
Ms Marlow, who had lived in the UK since 2004, was found strangled in a bathroom at the offices amid signs of a struggle.
Fagan admitted stealing six Dell laptop computers from the Research Now office where he used to work in Kennington, but denied stealing a handbag, belonging to finance manager Ms Marlow, 28.
The burly American, looking pudgy and unshaven after six months in jail and wearing thick spectacles and a black shirt unbuttoned at the neck, confidently denied murdering Ms Marlow when asked to plead by Judge Forrester.
Asked if he was guilty of stealing the laptops and the handbag, Fagan said he pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated burglary, rather than just burglary of the computers.
Judge Forrester replied the plea was not possible as it would be pleading guilty to a more serious charge than that he faced.
Fagan then admitted burglary of the laptops but after some confusion denied taking the handbag.
Judge Forrester gave the defence a week to sort out Fagan's plea.
Fagan's counsel will give further evidence to the judge on 27 July and a three-week trial will begin on 28 February next year.
Ms Marlow's family is expected to attend.
Her family, and Fagan's wife, were not at today's hearing.
- NZPA
