Boy, 17, in court charged with murder of pensioner

The teenager had been due to enter pleas but the hearing was adjourned for reports.

Gerald Wickes was found fatally injured (Leicestershire Police/PA) (PA Media)

A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering a great-grandfather has appeared in court.

The teenager was charged after Gerald Wickes, 79, was found fatally injured at an address in Queens Park Way, Leicester, following reports of a stabbing, on February 22.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in custody at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday, for a nine-minute hearing.

He had been due to enter pleas to charges which also included allegations he was in possession of an offensive weapon and assault of an emergency worker on February 22.

However, Judge Timothy Spencer KC told the teenager further reports were needed and set a new hearing, at the same court, on June 9.

A provisional trial date had already been set for October 2.

A 36-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman, both initially arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, have previously been released under investigation.