THE trial of a Whitehaven man accused of murdering a woman from the town is due to get under way next month after a judge gave lawyers in the case some final directions ahead of the hearing.

Paul Irwin, aged 50, denies the murder of 34-year-old Tiffany Render, also of Whitehaven.

Miss Render died in the early hours of March 23 this year. Police had been called to an address on George Street in Whitehaven just before midnight the previous evening.

Irwin also denies a second charge which alleges a sexual assault on Miss Render.

Irwin appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday morning as a pre-trial review was held in front of Judge Nicholas Barker.

During a 15-minute hearing, Judge Barker gave David Traynor, for the prosecution, and Irwin’s defence barrister directions for the imminent formal service of trial documents which had not yet been added to the court’s digital case system. These include reports produced by experts instructed by Irwin’s legal team.

All parties in the case agreed that the time estimate for the trial in front of a jury is around two weeks.

A High Court judge will preside over the Carlisle trial, which is due to start on Tuesday, November 12.

In the meantime Irwin remains remanded in custody. He attended today’s hearing remotely, over a video link, wearing a dark blue T-shirt.

“Your trial is set for November 12. You will be at this court on that date,” Judge Barker told Irwin as today’s hearing concluded.