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Man denies murder over remains found in Somerset

News imageBBC Craig Hurcombe is wearing glasses, has short greying hair and has facial hair. He is smiling at the camera.BBC
Craig Hurcombe from Wiltshire was reported missing on 10 January

A 40-year-old man has denied murdering a man whose remains were found in the Somerset countryside.

Michael Bretton, from Shaftesbury in Dorset, has appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with the murder of Craig Hurcombe, 39, from Rowde in Wiltshire.

Hurcombe's remains were found in the Roemead Road area of Gurney Slade on 14 January, two weeks after he was last seen alive.

Bretton, who is also charged with one count of stalking involving fear of violence against a woman, is next due to appear in court for a case management hearing on 5 May.

A date for a trial, which it is estimated will last between 10 to 12 days, has been set for 13 July.

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