Mental health of murder accused to be assessed

Calvin Olawale Babatunde died at a building in Fen Street in Milton Keynes after being stabbed in the neck

A man suspected of murdering another man is to be assessed for mental health issues after failing to appear in court.

Jay Lupton, 24, is accused of killing Calvin Olawale Babatunde in Milton Keynes on 25 January.

Mr Lupton, of Fen Street in the city, was due to appear at Luton Crown Court on Thursday via video link.

But his lawyer Alesdair King said he had been given “contradictory messages” as to why he was not produced.

Mr King told Judge Michael Simon there were mental health issues in the case and Mr Lupton would be assessed by a psychiatrist.

The judge set a provisional trial date for 15 July.

Mr Babatunde, who was 48, was found in a building in Fen Street at 18:47 GMT on 25 January and died at the scene.

A post-mortem examination showed he died of a stab wound to the neck.

Thames Valley Police had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), due to recent contact it had with the victim.