Release of murder accused blocked

Ali Umit Demir appeared in court in Istanbul

A court has refused to release a Turkish man charged with stabbing to death two Leeds United fans.

Ali Umit Demir was sentenced to 15 years for stabbing Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight before Leeds played Galatasaray in Istanbul in April 2000.

An appeal court in June overturned Mr Demir's conviction, ruling further investigations should be carried out.

On Tuesday, a judge refused his application to be released pending the new trial.

Judge Refah Ceran, said the court was still in the process of investigating whether Mr Demir killed both fans before the Uefa Cup semi-final.

The next hearing has been set for 4 March.

At an inquest in Leeds last week, the West Yorkshire coroner ruled that Mr Loftus and Mr Speight were unlawfully killed.