A 46-year-old Suffolk man has denied murdering his wife and 12-year-old daughter.

Before Ipswich Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing was Peter Nash, of Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield.

He pleaded not guilty to murdering Jillu Nash, 44, and Louise Nash between September 7 and 9 last year.

Nash was arrested after police gained entry to a house in Heath Estate, Great Waldingfield and found the bodies of his wife and daughter inside.

A Home Office post-mortem examination found that Jillu Nash’s cause of death was pressure on the neck while Louise Nash died from a stab wound to the abdomen.

At Monday’s hearing in front of High Court Judge, The Hon. Mr Justice Edward Henry Murray, Nash said he no longer wanted to be represented by his legal team and wanted to represent himself.

Nash, who is in custody, walks with the aid of a walking frame and several earlier plea hearings have had to be adjourned due to his mobility issues.

Nash’s trial is expected to get underway at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, April 17 and a further case management hearing will take place on Friday, March 10.