A FORMER Kent woman denied murdering her husband more than three years ago when she appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

Valerie Brown will stand trial at London's Old Bailey on April 19 next year, as the case cannot be held at Maidstone until June.

Brown, formerly of Lynsted Close, Stanhope, Ashfored, pleaded not guilty to murdering Michael Wood on July 7 2002 and soliciting her lover, Simon Wright, to murder him between January 1 and July 8 2002.

Wright, of Wharton Gardens, Willesborough, Ashford, was jailed for lile in November 2003 after being convicted of murdering Mr Wood who was 48.

Wright, a cleaner, cycled to Kenton's Yard in Challock, where the victim worked as a security guard, and stabbed him more than 28 times with a carving knife.

The 31-year-old killer will be the chief prosecution witness at the trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks.

Brown, now of Netherton Close, Chester-le-Street, Durham, was remanded in custody.