New trial date for man accused of murder
A NEW trial date has been set for a 45-year-old man accused of murdering his teacher wife in Derby.
Conrad Iyayi was due to face a jury this week at Derby Crown Court but the trial has not proceeded for a number of reasons including defence expert reports not being ready.
Iyayi will now appear at the same court in March of next year, more than a year after the death of Kathryn Harris at their Littleover home.
Dressed in a grey sweatshirt over a link from HMP Nottingham yesterday, Iyayi spoke only to confirm his name and to ask where his solicitor was. He was unrepresented by a barrister for the short hearing due to ongoing strike action. Judge Nirmal Shant QC, Honorary Recorder of Derby, set a new trial date to March 20, 2023. Remanding him into custody, she said: “I am giving it a two-week time estimate but that may be a little pessimistic.”
Iyayi has already admitted killing art teacher Katy when he pleaded guilty to her manslaughter at an earlier hearing in April. But prosecutor Gordon Aspden QC said those pleas were not acceptable to the Crown and a trial on the more serious charge will still go ahead.
Katy, 52, was found with critical injuries at her home in Oak Crescent, Littleover, at around 7.15am on the morning of February 6, this year. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Following her death, the mother-of-three, was described as “loving, compassionate, forgiving, loyal and creative” by her children.
Ms Harris had worked at St
Clare’s School in Mickleover until her death. It is a community special needs school for children with learning difficulties, autism and physical impairment. In a statement released at the time of the tragedy, headteacher Laura Russell said: “We are all shocked and saddened by this terrible news and our thoughts and prayers are with Katy’s friends and family at this awful time.
“Katy was a big part of the St Clare’s family and made a real difference to the students she taught.”
In a joint tribute, released on what would have been her 53rd birthday on March 1 this year, her children Alexa, 28, Phoebe, 23 and Theo, 11 said: “She was an advocate for young people and believed in everyone’s potential, always encouraging them to be their best selves.
“She was incredibly supportive, efficient and she dedicated her life to her children. Our most fond memories with our mother often involves travelling the world with her notably Thailand, Jamaica and Morocco, visiting a gallery or theatre, or exploring different cities. The loss of our mother is the most sudden and tragic event we will experience in our lives. Although a victim in this circumstance, out mother was not a victim in life.
“Katy was a fearless woman, she spoke her mind and stood up for herself and others. The pain that we feel now that our mother has been taken from us is indescribable, however we will move forward as a family with the spirit of our mum with us forever.”