A MURDER trial has been pushed back by more than four months to allow for more potential evidence to be prepared.

Rodney Brain was due to stand trial on December 9, having been charged with the murder of Graham Collier, a 57-year-old father from Oxford.

Brain, of Laurel Close in Carterton, has already pleaded not guilty to the count.

Police charged the 41-year-old after a ‘verbal altercation’ in East Oxford's Cowley Road, on Thursday, July 18.

Mr Collier died in hospital on Saturday, July 20, having suffered serious head injuries during the disagreement.

At a hearing at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, where the trial is due to take place, Judge Ian Pringle agreed to reschedule the trial and extend the time that Brain can spend in custody.

READ AGAIN: Police witness appeal in Cowley Road murder probe

After hearing justification from barristers, he said: "There is good and sufficient cause to extend the time limit."

A new trial date was set for Monday, April 20, and is expected to last for up to two weeks.

Barristers discussed how medical expertise will likely make up some of the case, and how more time was needed to allow for this.

Brain appeared in the dock yesterday wearing a red Adidas jumper and glasses on his head, while Mr Collier's children sat in the public gallery.

Before he died, Mr Collier was found unwell outside Posh Fish takeaway in Headington, having left hospital.

He was taken back after being found by members of the public, police revealed last week, but later died.

Last week Thames Valley Police issued an appeal for specific witnesses of the 'altercation', issuing descriptions of several people who were in Cowley Road at the time.

Officers also want to speak to customers who were inside Posh Fish when Mr Collier was found unwell.

A tribute to Mr Collier, released in July, said his family will 'cherish' their memories of him.