Stamford man admits killing neighbour but denies murder charge

A man from Stamford has admitted killing his neighbour, but has denied a charge of murder in a case that is set to return to Lincoln Crown Court next month.

Andrew Greengrass, 36, of Foundry Road, appeared before the court in Lincoln and entered a not guilty plea to the murder of Nigel Booth, 67. However, he admitted manslaughter.

The case centres on an incident in Stamford, one of Lincolnshire's best known market towns, where emergency services were called to a first-floor flat on Foundry Road at about 1am on 21 October. Mr Booth was found with serious injuries and later died.

The hearing in Lincoln means the case remains firmly within the county's court system, and it is one that will be closely followed by readers in South Lincolnshire as it moves towards trial. While Stamford is often associated with its historic streets, busy town centre and riverside setting, this case has brought a very different kind of attention to a residential road in the town.

At the latest court appearance, Greengrass admitted responsibility for unlawful killing by pleading guilty to manslaughter, but he disputes the more serious allegation of murder. That means a jury will now be asked to consider the circumstances of Mr Booth's death when the case comes to trial.

Lincoln Crown Court heard that Greengrass will stand trial for murder on 7 April. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

There was no application for bail during the hearing. Greengrass was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.

The distinction between manslaughter and murder is likely to become central to the proceedings when the case is heard in full. For now, only the pleas and timetable have been confirmed in court, with further detail expected to emerge during the trial itself.

Cases such as this are a reminder of the role Lincoln Crown Court plays in dealing with the most serious criminal matters from across the county, including incidents in communities such as Stamford. For local residents, the next key date will be in April, when the prosecution and defence are due to set out their cases before a jury.

Until then, reporting of the case remains limited to what has been heard in open court. What is clear at this stage is that Nigel Booth died after being found seriously injured at a flat in Foundry Road, and that the man accused of murdering him has admitted manslaughter while denying murder.

The case will continue at Lincoln Crown Court.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.