A 39-year-old man has denied murdering a woman six years ago, preventing her lawful burial and fraudulently claiming her benefit payments.

Kevin Flanagan is accused of killing Lisa Bennett in the Weoley Castle area of Birmingham in 2013.

On Tuesday, Flanagan, alongside his co-accused, Kathleen Salmond, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court charged with murder. 

During the short hearing, Flanagan entered not guilty pleas to the charges, while Salmond did not enter any pleas.

The fraud charge alleges that they falsely represented to the Department for Work and Pensions that Salmond was Bennett, and arranged for the transfer of state benefits into an account in Salmond’s name between May 8 and 31 2013.

Bennett, who was believed to be living in the Selly Oak area but was originally from Burton-on-Trent, was reported missing by her mother in May 2013.

Flanagan, of Redbrook Covert, Kings Norton, Birmingham, was granted conditional bail to appear at the same court for his trial on September 2.

Judge Mark Wall QC also granted Salmond, of Farnhurst Road, Hodge Hill, Birmingham, conditional bail until a further hearing on July 29.