A WOMAN has appeared before a judge at Manchester Crown Court and denied murdering a man in Bolton more than a year ago.

In a hearing conducted via Skype video conferencing Joleen Hulme, aged 35, of Daisy Hill Avenue, Adlington, looked straight ahead and stated "not guilty" when asked to enter a plea.

In the early hours of the morning on December 30, 2018, Paul Dickson is said to have been stabbed in a disturbance at a house in Montserrat Road, Johnson Fold.

During the incident neighbours were woken by shouting and spotted Mr Dickson staggering down the road.

He is said to have left his home and walked some way down the street before collapsing behind a van.

Emergency services arrived and treated Mr Dickson at the scene before rushing him to hospital.

In the hours that followed, police closed off sections of the street with crime scene tape and set up tents in the area in front of the home and behind the van where he is thought to have collapsed.

Much of the road remained closed throughout the day while the investigation continued.

Despite the best efforts of doctors 49-year-old Mr Dickson died in hospital 12 days later on January 11.

At the time a woman was arrested on suspicion of assault and then on suspicion of murder.

Police continued their enquiries and, last week, charged 35-year-old Joleen Hulme, of Daisy Hill Avenue, Adlington, with murder.

She appeared before Wigan magistrates on Thursday and was remanded in custody at Styal prison before the plea hearing at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Patrick Field QC a date for the trial to take place on November 2 and there was no application for bail.

Judge Field told Hulme: "Between now and the trial there will be a good deal of work undertaken on your behalf by your lawyers."

A pre-trial review of the case is due to take place on October 9.