Teenager accused of murdering American tourist in London to stand trial next year

A teenager accused of murdering an American tourist and wounding five other people in a knife rampage in central London will stand trial next year, a court heard.

Zakaria Bulhan, (19), is charged with carrying out the attack in Russell Square on July 3rd in which retired teacher Darlene Horton, (64), was killed.

She had been visiting the capital with her husband, Richard Wagner, a university professor from Florida who was teaching summer classes, and was due to return to their home in Tallahassee the following day.

Bulhan is also charged with the attempted murders of Martin Hoenisch, Lillie Selletin, David Imber, Bernard Hepplewhite and Yovel Lewronski, who were all injured in the same attack.

The defendant is a Norwegian national of Somali origin who moved to the UK in 2002 and lives in Tooting, south London.

He appeared unrepresented at the Old Bailey via video-link on Tuesday for a hearing lasting less than five minutes.

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, Recorder of London, remanded Bulhan in custody and set a trial date of February 6th, 2017.