Man facing trial over shop death

Colin Salt was caught in the rubble after the explosion

A 39-year-old man is to stand trial for the manslaughter of a man who died after an explosion six years ago, a judge in Cyprus has ruled.

Kemal Kemalzade is accused of killing Colin Salt, 47, who died after the blast at a newsagents in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

In 2004, Kemalzade's sister-in-law and brother were jailed for manslaughter, arson and fraud over the explosion.

Kemalzade was arrested in Cyprus in November. A trial is set for September.

No extradition treaties

Mr Salt lived above Shukri's News, in Chell Heath Road, and was trapped in the rubble following the blast, which was part of an insurance scam.

He died 18 days after the explosion on 28 December.

Kemalzade's brother Cinar and sister-in-law Sibel, who owned the shop, were both sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter, eight years for conspiracy to commit arson, and three years for plotting insurance fraud.

The trial will go ahead in Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus, where the 39-year-old was arrested, because the area has no extradition treaties with the UK.

On Friday, a judge in Nicosia ruled there was a case to answer and his trial has been provisionally set for 18 September.

'Grateful for patience'

Det Insp Mark Hurst, from Staffordshire Police, who has been at the hearing along with 12 witnesses, said: "We are very pleased with today's indication from the judge.

"Three judges will now hear the evidence during the equivalent of a crown court trial.

"A number of witnesses were flown out to Cyprus for the preliminary hearing.

"We are very grateful for the co-operation and patience they have shown, faced with the challenge of attending a foreign court and taking part in proceedings in a foreign language."