The trial of former Norwich landlord Steve Wright, who is accused of kidnapping and murdering Victoria Hall more than 20 years ago, is expected to take place next summer in London.
A hearing at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday heard that Wright had been seen by a psychiatrist and assessed as being fit to plead to the charges and to stand trial.
Wright, who used to run the Ferry Boat in Norwich, is accused of kidnapping 17-year-old Victoria and murdering her on September 19 1999 and attempting to kidnap a 22-year-old Emily Doherty on September 18 1999.
Judge Martyn Levett indicated that Wright's trial, which is expected to last a month, could take place some time after May next year depending on the availability of barristers in the case and a court venue.
He directed that a short hearing to consider the trial venue should take place on Monday next week and a further case management hearing should take place on December 2.
Victoria left her home in Trimley St Mary on the evening of Saturday, September 18, 1999, to go for a night out with a friend at the Bandbox nightclub in Bent Hill, Felixstowe, where they remained until around 1am on the morning of Sunday, September 19.
They then went to get some food at the Bodrum Grill in Undercliff Road West, before beginning the walk back to Trimley St Mary.
They parted at around 2.20am near to the junction of High Road and Faulkeners Way. Victoria was just yards away from her home.
When her parents woke up that morning and discovered that she had not returned home, the police were called and a missing person inquiry commenced.
Five days later, on Friday September 24, Victoria's body was found in a ditch beside a field by a dog walker in Creeting Lane, Creeting St Peter, approximately 25 miles away from where she was last seen.
In September 2019, Suffolk police revealed that the case - known as Operation Avon - was now a live inquiry again and being fully reinvestigated by a new team of detectives.
Wright, formerly of London Road in Ipswich, was charged on May 22 this year with kidnap and murder, in connection with the abduction and death of Victoria.
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