Man appears in court after woman, 21, found dead

Courtney Angus was found dead at a house in Batley on Saturday night

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 21-year-old woman who was found dead at a house in West Yorkshire on Saturday.

Michael Moore appeared by video link at Leeds Crown Court, five days after the body of Courtney Angus, from Dewsbury, was discovered at his home on Norfolk Street in Batley.

Mr Moore, 37, previously named as Michael Doherty, is due to appear at the same court on 5 September where he is expected to enter a plea to the murder charge.

Ms Angus's family were present in court, supported by a family liaison officer.

Judge Tom Bayliss KC set a date of 26 January 2026 for the trial, which is expected to last five days.

Officers were called to reports of an armed robbery at Asda in Dewsbury at 21:20 BST on Saturday 26 July.

They arrested a man, who told officers there was a dead woman inside a house on Norfolk Street in Batley.

Officers attended the address in Batley and found the body of Ms Angus.

A knife was seized at the scene, police said.

Ms Angus's family called her a 'beautiful soul'

Mr Moore is charged with murdering Ms Angus, along with possession of a bladed article, affray, and two counts of threatening a person with a bladed article in a public place.

Police said the charges relate to incidents in Dewsbury on the same day.

In a statement, Ms Angus' relatives said she had "a beautiful soul", adding: "Her whole family is heartbroken over the loss of such an amazing woman."

"Courtney had many friends and family who loved her," the statement continued.

"She will be missed so dearly."

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