Trial date set in NZ murder case

Karen Aim suffered head injuries in the fatal attack

A date has been set for the trial of a New Zealand teenager charged with murdering Orkney backpacker Karen Aim.

The 15-year-old accused, who was 14 at the time of Miss Aim's death, will stand trial on 9 February. He has pleaded not guilty.

The trial date was set at a hearing at the High Court in Rotorua on Wednesday.

Ms Aim, 26, died as a result of head injuries in January after being attacked when walking home from a night out in the resort of Taupo.

It has also been announced that an arts scholarship is to be set up in New Zealand in her memory.

The plan is to award scholarships of $2,000-a-year to two arts students in Taupo. In return, the students will be required to produce a piece of visual art suitable for permanent display in either Taupo or Orkney.

The idea for the scholarships arose from Karen's love and professional involvement in the visual arts while she was working in New Zealand's north island.