TWO people have appeared in court accused of the murder of a man who died two years after being attacked in York.

Andrew Fowler, 42, of Monkton Road, off Malton Road in York, and Amanda Jane Moran, 28, of St John's Terrace in Leeds, are accused of attacking Stephen Eastwood on March 27, 2012, and giving him head injuries.

Mr Eastwood, of Acomb, never recovered from his injuries and died on May 12 this year, aged 49. The prosecution is expected to claim that he died as a result of the injuries he suffered on Lawrence Street in 2012.

Neither Colin Byrne for Fowler, nor Liam Hassan for Moran, applied for bail as magistrates are not allowed to grant bail in murder cases.

Martin Butterworth, for the prosecution, told magistrates on Wednesday that the case could only be heard by a judge and jury, and magistrates sent both defendants to Leeds Crown Court in custody.

Neither Fowler nor Moran spoke during their separate brief hearings before the bench other than to confirm their names, ages and addresses. Neither was asked to enter a plea to the charge that they jointly murdered Mr Eastwood on May 12, 2014.

They will appear before Leeds Crown Court on Friday for a preliminary hearing which will be their first chance to apply for bail and indicate their plea.