A NORTH Yorkshire woman is to stand trial at Hull Crown Court after denying a charge of manslaughter.

Christine Mary Rhodes, 31, of Stutton, near Tadcaster, is accused of pushing her former partner Paul Butterfield, 30, who lived in York, off the parapet of the Commercial Street Bridge in Tadcaster last March.

During a brief appearance, spoke only to confirm her name and reply "not guilty" as the charge was put to her. She is alleged to have pushed Mr Butterfield off the bridge after the pair had spent the afternoon drinking in a Tadcaster pub where an argument developed. They had left the pub in the early evening and the argument continued.

Mr Butterfield was seen to climb on to the parapet and threatened to jump into the river. Witnesses have claimed that they saw Rhodes push Mr Butterfield off the bridge, but others say that they saw Mr Butterfield leave the water after the incident.

His body was recovered from the River Wharfe four weeks later.

The couple had met four years ago and lived together for a time. They had a two-year-old child, but the relationship soured and they split up last October.

During yesterday's court appearance, defence counsel told Judge Tom Cracknell that it was in everybody's best interest to have the matter dealt with quickly, but there was still a great deal of work to be done, both for the prosecution and the defence in the case.

Granting Rhodes bail on condition of residence, Judge Cracknell adjourned the case until the trial, which was set to begin in February next year.

PICTURE: Christine Rhodes: denial