A man charged with the “violent kidnapping and murder” of schoolgirl Nikki Allan has pleaded not guilty to killing her.
David Boyd allegedly used ‘extreme violence’ in killing the seven-year-old 30 years ago. Nikki’s body was found in an abandoned building in the Wear Garth area of Sunderland in October 1992. She disappeared after leaving her grandparents’ house and neighbors formed search parties in a bid to find her . His body was later found in the abandoned Old Exchange building a few hundred yards away.
Boyd, 54, of Chesterton Court, Norton, Stockton, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on a video link from jail wearing a gray jumper and white face mask. When asked about the allegation that he murdered Nikki Allan on October 7, 1992, he replied, “Not guilty.” At that point, Judge Paul Sloan asked the lawyers to pause for a moment because “someone has become distressed in the public gallery”.
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A timetable for the case has been set and Boyd is expected to go to trial in January or April next year. Judge Sloan said, “I adjourn your case until trial. The exact date of the trial will be confirmed in the coming days. There will be another preliminary hearing before the trial date.
“In due course, you will be required to provide a statement of defense setting out in detail your defense to the charge against you.” He was then taken into custody.
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