Man appears in court charged with murder of woman in Leeds

A 53-year-old man has appeared in court accused of murdering a woman in Leeds over the Easter weekend.

Emergency services were called to a property in Beeston, a suburb of Leeds, at just after 1pm on Saturday and discovered the body of a woman.

West Yorkshire police said the woman, now identified as 48-year-old Ruth Baker from Carlisle, received medical attention but was confirmed to have died at the scene.

George Chalmers, of Tempest Road in Beeston, was charged with her murder and appeared at Leeds crown court on Wednesday via video link from HMP Leeds.

Chalmers was not arraigned so no plea was entered. No application for bail was made by the defence barrister Gillian Batts. A psychiatric report is expected to be prepared.

The case was adjourned until 3 May for a possible pre-trial preparation hearing.

Chalmers first appeared before Leeds magistrates court on 1 April and, because of the seriousness of the charge, the case was sent to the crown court.

The judge, Andrew Stubbs KC, remanded Chalmers into custody. He set a provisional trial date of 6 October.

Police said inquiries were being carried out to ascertain the full circumstances of Baker’s death but that no one else was being sought in connection with the matter.

In a statement, the victim’s family said: “We are saddened by our loss, however we want to remember her in a positive light and not be darkened by the circumstances of her death.”