ANOTHER murder trial has been postponed because courts are not able to apply social distancing rules for juries.

Daniel Appleton, 37, is accused of killing wife Amy Appleton, 32, and Sandy Seagrave, 76, in Crawley Down. His trial was due to start this month at Lewes Crown Court.

But Judge Christine Laing QC told barristers and family members that a trial would not start next week. She has previously said that the Crown Courts in Lewes, Hove, and Brighton are not able to apply social distancing rules for juries.

Jury trials have restarted at Portsmouth, Croydon, Canterbury and Maidstone, and magistrates’ court trials have also started in Sussex.

At a hearing the judge said: “We hoped the trial would be starting next week, but that is simply not going to happen. A limited number of courts have started to have jury trials. The presider has looked hard to see if this trial can be moved elsewhere but there simply is no space elsewhere.

“Other cases are considered to have a more pressing urgency, for a variety of reasons.”

Appleton, of Hazel Way, Crawley Down, denies murder. A new trial date will need to be set.