Anuj Bidve killing: Briton in custody until 20 March

London: 20-year-old ‘Psycho’ Briton, accused of killing Indian student Anuj Bidve in an unprovoked attack, was on Tuesday remanded to custody until 20 March when the next hearing is scheduled in the widely publicised case. Kiaran Stapleton, who described himself as “Psycho Stapleton” at Manchester Magistrates Court on Monday, appeared before the Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday via video-link from prison. He was remanded until March 20. After the second post-mortem was conducted on Tuesday, the coroner is likely to release the body of 23-year-old Bidve for repatriation to India. Bidve was shot dead on a Salford street on December 26. His family members are expected to reach Manchester this week to receive the body. Today’s developments followed a well-attended vigil in Salford last night at the site where Bidve, a postgraduate student of icroelectronics at Lancaster University, was killed from point blank range. [caption id=“attachment_171623” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“A convoy of police vehicles containing 20-year-old British man Kiaran Stapleton charged with the murder of 21-year old Indian student Anuj Bidve, leaves court in Manchester. AP”]  [/caption] Prayers by a Hindu priest marked the candle-lit vigil as hundreds of people expressed their grief at the incident. The gathering included many residents of the Orsdall area of Salford, where the incident took place. Expressing shock at the incident, they said Bidve’s attackers had brought shame to the area and unwelcome national and international attention to Salford. The incident and vigil have been widely covered in the British press. A lamppost, festooned with fresh floral tributes became the spot for an impromptu shrine, where candles and cards with messages were placed. The Manchester police team investigating the murder of city-based Anuj Bidve, meanwhile said that they were able to “fill in some of the gaps” in understanding the events leading to the tragic death of the 23-year old student at Lancaster University on 26 December. “We met Anuj’s family last night for several hours and were able to fill in some of the gaps in understanding the events leading up to Anuj’s tragic death,” Greater Manchester chief police superintendent Russ Jackson told reporters in Pune this evening. Jackson, who arrived in Pune last night along with his colleague Peter Richards, said one Kiaran Mark Stapleton (20), charged with Anuj’s murder was produced at Manchester Magistrate’s court on Monday (2 January) and remanded in custody to await trial. “The purpose of our visit was to speak with the family of Anuj and to support them in what must be one of the most difficult times of their life. In all incidents of murder, we use specially trained liaison officers who work with a family. Their role is to support and guide them through the upsetting process of receiving their loved one back and matters such as court proceedings”, Jackson said. “It is not uncommon for us to send officers to other countries if the victim’s family come from outside the UK,” he said adding “it is specially important in this case and in our view best done in a face to face meeting”. Jackson said “Anuj’s family are understandably very keen to have Anuj’s body returned to them. In the UK, following charge of a person, the defence are entitled to a second post mortem examination. This is taking place this morning (3 January). After this, the Coroner will be able to consider release of Anuj. Anuj’s family is aware of this and the detailed reasoning behind it”. Bidve was shot dead in an unprovoked attack in Salford. PTI