A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his estranged wife.
Cornelius Van Der Ploeg, 63, was arrested in connection with the death of Cherith Van Der Ploeg who was found at an address in Highfields, Costessey, shortly before 11pm on February 15 this year.
Van Der Ploeg, of Telford, has subsequently been charged with murder.
He appeared at Norwich Crown Court via videolink for a short hearing on Thursday (April 30).
The court heard from the defendant’s barrister, Matthew Jewel QC, who said Van Der Ploeg had been seen by a forensic psychologist who had been looking at his “state of mind at the time” of the incident but there would be no issues with regards fitness to plead. It is hoped the defendant will be in a position to indicate a plea by the end of May with a further case management hearing listed for June 22.
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