Police ScotlandA suspect is to stand trial charged with choking a man to death.
Christos Nikiforidis allegedly murdered Elvis Palla, 34, at a flat in Polwarth, Edinburgh last December 13.
Prosecutors claim the 34-year-old compressed Mr Palla’s neck with his hands, causing him to lose consciousness.
Nikiforidis faces a separate charge of assaulting a man at HMP Edinburgh three days later.
The case called for a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.
Nikiforidis’ lawyer Iain McSporran said: “I have instructions to plead not guilty.”
The KC added there may be a mental health defence to the allegations in what he described as “quite an unusual case”.
Lord Scott went on to fix a trial and it is scheduled to start in January 2028 in Edinburgh.
The case could last around ten days.
Nikiforidis remains at the State Hospital in Carstairs meantime.
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