Salford Man Remanded On Indian Student Murder Charge

"Psycho Stapleton", as he calls himself, has been remanded into custody charged with the murder of Indian student Anuj Bidve in Salford.

20-year-old Kiaran Stapleton, from Ordsall in Salford, replied "Psycho Stapleton" when asked to give his name as he stood in the dock at City of Manchester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Stapleton appeared at Manchester Crown Court via video-link, and was again remanded in custody until his next scheduled appearance on March 20. 

He was arrested last Thursday and charged with Mr Bidve's murder on Sunday.

23-year-old anuj was described as a "promising and clever'' student, was shot once in the head at around 1.30am on December 26. He died a short time later in hospital.

He was with a group of fellow Indian students visiting Manchester for Christmas when he was murdered as the group walked through the Ordsall district of Salford, heading for Manchester city centre. 

Two officers from Greater Manchester Police have flown to India to meet Subhash Bidve, the victim's father. He found out about his son's death on Facebook at home in Pune, India, before police in the UK could contact him.

On Monday night, hundreds of people attended a candlelit memorial service for Mr Bidve at the scene where he was gunned down in Ordsall Lane, while a peace march was held for him in New Delhi, finishing outside the British Embassy.

A trial date was provisionally fixed for June 25 at Manchester Crown Court, it's expected to last 3 to 4 weeks.

Three other people who were arrested on suspicion of Mr Bidve's murder have been bailed until March pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, had his bail cancelled.