A man is due to stand trial accused of the murder of a six-year-old girl who was killed in a house fire.

Dumo Sibanda died after a fire was started at her home in Banks Road, Pound Hill, Crawley, on October 26, 2004.

Members of her family managed to escape the blaze but Dumo was found inside.

She was taken to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

British detectives flew to South Africa last year to make appeals in the local media for help to track down suspect George Champion Sithole.

The 40-year-old was traced and he was extradited from Johannesburg to Heathrow in March this year, accompanied on the flight by officers from Sussex Police's major crime branch.

Sithole, of no fixed address, was charged with murder, arson with intent to endanger life, and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

During a plea and case management hearing at Lewes Crown Court today, Sithole, wearing a tracksuit, spoke only to confirm his identity and plead not guilty to all three charges.

Judge Richard Brown fixed a trial date for October 31 this year and further remanded Sithole in custody.