A Birmingham man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a 48-year-old whose body was recovered from a city canal almost six years ago.
Court Appearance and Charges
Cain Watson, aged 33, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday via a video-link from HMP Birmingham. The defendant, who was wearing a grey sweatshirt, formally entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murdering Darren Round.
Watson, of Dornie Drive in Birmingham, also denied an alternative count of manslaughter in connection with Mr Round's death.
Discovery of the Body
The case relates to the discovery of Darren Round's body on the morning of February 15, 2020. West Midlands Police confirmed the remains were found near Masshouse Lane in the Kings Norton area of Birmingham.
The location of the discovery was the city's canal network, a detail that has been central to the investigation since the outset.
Trial Date Set
Judge Andrew Smith KC presided over the hearing and informed the defendant of the forthcoming trial arrangements. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 1 and is estimated to last between two and three weeks.
The proceedings will see a jury presented with the evidence gathered by detectives over the years since the grim discovery was made.
