A 30-year-old woman has appeared in court accused of hindering the police investigation into the murder of Mark Webb.

Susan Webb, 30, is alleged to have interfered with the crime scene in Acomb last March and misdirected police officers on the day of the killing.

Brian Cox, 29, of no fixed address, has been charged with Mr Webb’s murder and remanded in custody at Leeds Crown Court. A trial date has been set for October 17 at the same court.

Father-of-five Mr Webb was 40 when he was found with stab wounds to his neck in Middleton Road on March 4.

He was taken to York Hospital and died there the next day.

Cox is accused of murdering him at a house in Stuart Road, which is next to Middleton Road. Susan Webb, of Middleton Road, Acomb, is charged with perverting the course of justice at the same house in Stuart Road on March 4.

She spoke only to confirm her name, age and address at the brief hearing before York magistrates at which Sandra White, for the prosecution, said the charge could only be tried by a judge and jury.

Magistrates sent the case to York Crown Court, where Webb is due to appear on May 16 for a preliminary hearing. That will be her first chance to enter a plea.

She was released on bail on condition that she does not contact Cox, a second man and two women, either directly or indirectly. Mr Webb grew up in Acomb and lived in Cornlands Road.

His funeral was held last month. Last week, his daughter Sammie Luke gave birth to his first grandchild, Jessica-Leigh.