British man Jamie Barrow has faced a judge at Nottingham Crown Court after he was accused of the murder of 28-year-old Fatoumatta Hydara and her two daughters. 

Barrow, 31, of Nottingham, appeared in the dock wearing a plain grey long-sleeved top and jogging bottoms, and spoke only to confirm his name.

Adjourning the case, Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Barrow: “Stand up please. Your trial is fixed for the 22nd of May.

“There will be other hearings before that and the next hearing date, as far as you are concerned, will be the 17th of February. In the meantime you are remanded in custody.”

Following the hearing, in which legal submissions were made by defence and prosecution barristers, Judge Shant thanked everyone present in court for keeping “understandable” emotions in check.

The trial of Barrow, who arrived at court from prison around an hour late, is likely to last for up to three weeks, the court heard.

Barrow, a neighbour, was arrested last week after a flat fire in the early hours killed Fatimah Drammeh, aged three, and Naeemah Drammeh, one.

Their mother Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, died in hospital two days later, after suffering smoke inhalation in the blaze at her home in Nottingham, UK.