A MAN charged with murdering a York father will today try to get bail.

Brian Cox was remanded in custody when he appeared before York magistrates yesterday.

His solicitor, Vicky Latham, could not apply for bail then because a recent change in the law means only Crown Court and High Court judges can grant bail to people on murder charges.

They adjourned his case to Leeds Crown Court today for a bail application before Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC.

Cox, 29, spoke only to confirm his name and age and that he had no fixed address during the three-minute hearing at York magistrates.

He also acknowledged he understood as the justices’ legal advisor, Julian Cundiff, read out the charge that accuses him of murdering Mark John Webb in Stuart Road, Acomb, on March 4.

For the Crown Prosecution Service, Sandra White told the bench that because the charge was murder it had to be sent immediately before a crown court.

Mr Webb, 40, of Cornlands Road, Acomb, died at York Hospital on Friday. He was taken to its accident and emergency department by ambulance after a member of the public made an emergency call at 4.15pm about an incident in Stuart Road.

Cox was dressed in a dark blue T-shirt for the brief appearance before York magistrates and was flanked by two dock officers.

He was arrested on Friday and held in police custody over the weekend. He was charged on Monday.

Four other people were also arrested over the weekend in connection with the alleged murder.

A 26-year-old woman was released without charge and three more, a 34-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman and a 49-year-old woman, were released on conditional bail.