This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A man accused of shooting dead his heavily pregnant ex-wife with a crossbow will face trial next year.

Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo, 50, of no fixed abode, has been charged with the murder of 35-year-old Sana Muhammad.

The victim, known as Devi Unmathallegadoo before her remarriage, was attacked at her home in Ilford, east London, on Monday. Doctors performed an emergency caesarean to deliver her son, who was due to be born in about four weeks.

The defendant appeared before Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC at the Old Bailey via video link from Pentonville prison, north London, on Thursday. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and British nationality.

The trial is expected to last up to two weeks. The defendant was remanded into custody.