A DENHOLME man accused of killing a Bradford father has made his first appearance in front of a Crown Court judge.

James Sutcliffe, 28, appeared at Bradford Crown Court today charged with the murder of 29-year-old Tyron Charles.

Mr Charles was last seen earlier this month and a search for his body remains ongoing.

Members of his family packed into the court’s public gallery before Sutcliffe was led into the dock for the brief hearing.

Sutcliffe, slimly-built with brown hair and a beard, spoke only to confirm his name to the court clerk.

Prosecutor Anthony Moore said that given the case had only been sent by magistrates on Wednesday, the court was in no position to conduct a plea hearing at such an early stage.

Mr Moore said that the Crown Prosecution Service would oppose any application for bail, and Sutcliffe’s barrister, Richard Wright QC, confirmed that no such application was to be made.

Judge David Hatton QC said a trial date of March 12 next year was available, which he said fell within Sutcliffe’s custody time limits of March 21.

A full plea and trial preparation hearing was arranged for October 19, and Judge Hatton told Sutcliffe, of Hillcrest Road, he must remain in custody until then.

He said: “The next hearing in this case will be in this building on October 19. You will be brought to court for that event.

“Your trial, if there is to be a trial, will take place on March 12.

“You must, certainly for the present, remain in custody.”

Mr Charles was last seen in Denholme on September 6.

As part of the police investigation, extensive searches have been carried out at the outdoor activity centre at Doe Park, Denholme, and a nearby allotment.

A large cordon was put in place over the weekend at the centre and police divers have been scouring the large lake at the sailing centre.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said today: “Underwater searches at the reservoir are continuing.”

On Tuesday night, a police forensics team could be seen at work at a rented house in Unity Street South, Bingley, where Mr Charles had lived.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at the sequence of events, with one saying the incident had “shaken everyone.”

Mr Charles’ family had initially appealed for information on his whereabouts via an appeal on the Missing People website.