JASON Voong, the man accused of the murder of Tom Rogers and attempted murder of Leanne James in an underpass last summer, will have the opportunity to plead to the charges next month.

Medical examinations into the mental state of Voong, which have been conducted while the 28-year-old has been remanded in custody at Broadmoor, are now all but concluded after a trial date earlier this year had to be changed.

Voong, of Southbrook Street Extension, is accused of the attempted murder of Leanne James last May in the underpass leading from the Oasis Leisure centre to the town centre.

The next month, 60-year-old pub worker Mr Rogers was fatally stabbed while cycling along the same route.

Voong did not speak during the brief hearing as he appeared via video link wearing a blue jumper with his arms folded, only indicating to confirm his name.

A fresh trial date has now been reserved at Bristol Crown Court for an estimated two weeks in November.

There will be a plea hearing next month by the time psychiatric assessments from both sides have been submitted.

The custody time limit to keep Voong remanded was due to expire this Thursday, and has now been extended until the day after the expected trial.

His Honour Judge Neil Ford QC, presiding, told the court: “I will set the plea and case management hearing for July 3, but that date can be fine tuned for the convenience of all the counsels. There is an application to extend the custody time limit, and the two-fold statutory test has been satisfied.

“There is a good and sufficient case to extend the custody time limit, arising from the timing of the surface of defence material, and the need for the prosecution to respond to that.

“The Crown have applied for a short extension, but it has been suggested it might be more convenient to be extended to tie in with the agreed first available trial date of November 2.

“The position is that the full medical picture will be available in early July, and there will be a plea and case management hearing at that time.

“You will attend again via video link unless there are representations that you should be brought here.”