CHARGES against a defendant accused of stabbing a man to death could be dismissed following delays in serving evidence.

Gordon McGhee was found dead in his flat in Forest Road, Colchester, in August.

The 52-year-old had stab wounds to his neck and chest.

Police launched a murder investigation in the wake of his death which involved forensic examination of the flat and widespread searches of the Greenstead estate.

Danny Bostock, of Berberis Walk, Colchester, was later arrested and charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life.

A plea and trial preparation hearing was scheduled for Ipswich Crown Court in front of judge Martyn Levett on Friday,.

However Nneka Akudolu, defending, said she was preparing an application for dismissal because of the lack of evidence disclosed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

She said: “At Chelmsford Crown Court on August 29 when he first appeared, the date of October 10 was set as when the Crown should serve the papers ahead of plea and trial preparation hearing on October 19.

“They then wrote to the court asking an extension of seven days on October 10 without one piece of evidence being presented.

“Your honour refused the application.

“It was only yesterday the first papers were uploaded.

“The defendant has been in custody since his arrest on August 25.

“We need to go through the evidence in a reasonable timeframe.

“The first statement is dated on September 28 but for some reason was not uploaded until October 18.

“It leaves us no time to be able to see Mr Bostock.

“He faces a very serious charge and we need a reasonable amount of time to go through the evidence with him.”

Ms Akudolu said she would serve the application to dismiss in the coming days if no more evidence was served. However, the Crown Prosecution Service said it is confident it could present the case in the coming days.

Judge Levett set a provisional date for the dismissal hearing on November 26.

A trial date has been set for February, and if it goes ahead is expected to last three weeks. Bostock has not entered formal pleas but is likely to deny both charges.

Speaking after his death, Mr McGhee’s family said: “Gordon was a quiet, private man who was loved very much and will be greatly missed.”