Spalding man Brian Simpson deemed unfit to enter a plea at court for alleged murder of Kristine Sparane

A Spalding man accused of murdering Kristine Sparane is unfit to enter a plea to the charge, a court was told today.

Brian Simpson, 64, of Nene Court, was charged with the murder of 37-year-old Ms Sparane after her body was found at a property in Winsover Road, Spalding, at about 7.30pm on Tuesday, November 26.

Mr Simpson has not entered a plea to the murder charge and his case was today listed before the Recorder of Lincoln, Judge Simon Hirst, who is currently sitting at Stafford Crown Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service was represented today (Monday March 10) by Mary Prior KC, who confirmed it was accepted by the prosecution that Mr Simpson was not fit to enter a plea to the murder allegation.

Mr Simpson was due to stand trial at Lincoln Crown Court on May 19 but a hearing to decide the facts of the case will now take place on the same date without his attendance.

That hearing is expected to last up to four days.

Mr Simpson, who was previously remanded into custody at HMP Nottingham, did not attend today’s hearing and was represented by Andrew Vout KC.

A trial of facts — also known as a finding of fact — is used to determine whether an accused, who is not fit to plead or stand in a criminal trial, committed an alleged act.

A defendant cannot be found guilty or not guilty but can be found to have either carried out or not carried out an act.