Not guilty plea to Jane murder

Mr Coutts was remanded in custody until his trial

A part-time musician has pleaded not guilty to the murder of school teacher Jane Longhurst .

Graham Coutts, of Waterloo Street, Hove, East Sussex, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Friday morning for a plea and directions hearing.

Miss Longhurst's body was found in woodland in West Sussex on 19 April.

Mr Coutts, 35, is charged with murdering Miss Longhurst at some point between 14 March and 19 April.

He appeared in court flanked by three guards and spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his plea.

Mr Coutts was remanded in custody by Judge Richard Brown for a provisional trial date set for 5 January.

Miss Longhurst, originally from Reading, lived with her partner Malcolm Sentance in Shaftesbury Road, Brighton.

She was a music teacher at Uplands School, a special needs school in the south coast city.

She disappeared from home on 14 March and her body was found five weeks later at Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough.

A post mortem examination showed she had been strangled.