Musician Graham Coutts yesterday denied murdering teacher Jane Longhurst.

Coutts, 36, of Waterloo Street, Hove, pleaded not guilty to strangling Miss Longhurst, 31, a special needs teacher originally from Reading, in March 2003.

Miss Longhurst's body was found on Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough.

Coutts appeared at the Old Bailey by video-link.

He was remanded in custody to another hearing on January 26 next year. The trial will take place on June 4.

Coutts was jailed for life at Lewes Crown Court in February 2004 for the murder of Miss Longhurst. However, his conviction was quashed in July this year after being ruled unsafe by the Law Lords.

Three Appeal Court judges formally quashed Coutts's conviction and said he should be charged on a fresh indictment and retried.