AN attempted murder trial due to start at Winchester Crown Court on Monday has been postponed until next year. 

At a hearing on June 21, the court called into question the defendant's mental health and his fitness to plead.

On January 3, Luke Robert Stride, 33, of Fox Lane, was charged with the attempted murder of Leslie Roy Foulds and assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Julie Stride, who are in their 70s and 60s respectively.

Stride's trial was set to begin on Monday, June 24, but the court ruled that questions remained over his mental condition at the time the crime, as well as his fitness to plead.

It was agreed to postpone the trial for more examinations to take place. 

The first date available to both barristers, Mr Richard Onslow, defending, and Mr Giles Bedloe, prosecuting, and the court was Monday, February 17. The trial has been provisionally booked to last five days.

Stride will remain in custody until the trial begins.