A Wallingford man accused of murdering his wife will stand trial next week.

Mihai Hurmuz-Irimia, 29, is said by prosecutors to have fatally stabbed his wife Katie on August 30 last year.

The 40-year-old died at their home in Blue Mountains, Wallingford, the town that acted as the setting for fictional county town Causton in ITV detective series Midsomer Murders.

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The trial will begin at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, July 17.

Appearing before court in November, Hurmuz-Irimia pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder.

Wearing a grey jumper and navy tracksuit trousers, he spoke only to confirm his name and not guilty plea.

He spent much of the 17 minute plea hearing with his eyes fixed on the floor of the dock.

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The trial was initially planned to go ahead in February but was delayed for almost five months due to ‘legal reasons’.

In September, Mrs Hurmuz-Irimia’s family, friends and former colleagues at the Londis shop in Sinodun Road paid tribute to her.

Her family described her as friendly and a ‘lovely mum’.

“We have lost our star,” they said.

Jyoti Patel, who runs the Londis, said of the woman who first came to work for them when she was 14: “She was loving, kind, funny, caring person. We will treasure all the memories we have had with her.

“She will be truly missed by everyone who knew her and she will always be forever in our hearts.”