A 24-year-old man today denied murdering a pensioner in his Aberdeenshire home.
Steven Sidebottom is accused of repeatedly striking 67-year-old Brian McKandie with an unidentified blunt implement or implements and robbing him of a sum of money.
It is alleged that Sidebottom murdered Mr McKandie on March 11, 2016, at a house in Badenscoth, Rothienorman.
Sidebottom has lodged a special defence of alibi.
Sidebottom is also charged with defeating the ends of justice by removing a bath, a sink, a basin, pipe works, carpeting, flooring and other items from the chalet between December 22, 2016, and February 23, this year.
He is also accused of stealing sums of money from his home on various occasions between January 1, 2008, and February 17, this year.
Sidebottom is further charged with theft and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
He appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow and his QC Ian Duguid pled not guilty to all the charges on his behalf.
Judge Lady Stacey set a trial date for January 29 at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Prosecutor Iain McSporran QC that he intended to call up to 82 witnesses and added: “I estimate the trial will last for four weeks.”
An appeal was made on BBC’s Crimewatch programme for information about handyman Mr McKandie’s death.
