THE MAN accused of murdering Carmarthenshire chip shop owner Mavis Bran will go on trial in May next year, a judge announced this afternoon (Nov 26)
Her husband Geoffrey Bran, aged 70, made his first appearance at Swansea Crown Court via video link with Swansea prison, where he is being held in custody.
Bran is accused of causing fatal burns to his 69-year-old wife at the chip shop in the grounds of their home in the hamlet of Hermon on October 23.
She died six days later in Swansea’s Morriston hospital.
Bran, dressed in a maroon crew neck jumper, spoke only to confirm his name, nationality and date of birth.
Rachel Knight, prosecuting, told the court that police were still gathering evidence and various experts would be called to help with the causation of death and the nature of the burns suffered by Mrs Bran.
Judge Keith Thomas said the trial would begin on May 7 and is expected to last two weeks.
He said the trial would be conducted by Judge Paul Thomas, who will preside over the next hearing on February 25.
That will be the date when Bran will be asked to enter a plea to the charge of murder.
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