The trial of the former pub chef accused of the murder of artist Claire Knights has been delayed for at least three months.

Jurors were expected to be sworn in at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday but following two days of legal argument, Mr Justice Garnham ruled today that further psychiatric and psychological assessments of Harrison Lawrence Van-Pooss are required.

The adjournment means the trial will now not commence before September 1.

Lawrence Van-Pooss, of Craven Close, Margate, is alleged to have murdered 54-year-old Ms Knights, of Upstreet, Canterbury, while she was walking her dog in the nearby area of Minnis Bay, Birchington, on August 23 last year.

The springer spaniel, called Zebulon, was found later that day on the beach, and her Suzuki car abandoned in Shuart Lane, St Nicholas at Wade.

The mum's disappearance sparked a widespread search by police, the coastguard, Kent Search and Rescue and lifeboat crews, as well as family, friends and the local community, before her body was found in a dyke in Minnis Bay on August 25.

Cause of death was later given as blunt force trauma and drowning.

Lawrence Van-Pooss, 20, had been arrested on suspicion of murder on August 24 and was subsequently charged.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence at a hearing at the same court in April.

He and Ms Knights were not known to each other.

During the two days of legal argument, Lawrence Van-Pooss spoke simply to confirm his name.

On ruling the trial should be adjourned, Mr Justice Garnham said he "fully recognised the anguish" of Ms Knights' family and friends who had sat in the public gallery throughout proceedings.

Thanking them for the "patience" they had shown during the "lengthy debate", the judge added: "I can only imagine the difficulty you all face listening to this when you know what's at stake."

In a tribute following her death, Ms Knights, who was a well-known member of the Kent art community, was described as "a trailblazer in life".

The sculptor's many achievements included teaching art in two prisons in the early 1990s and graduating from The Margate School with a masters last year, where she was praised as "outstanding and exceptional".

Lawrence Van-Pooss, who also faces a charge of voyeurism in relation to a separate incident on August 22 last year in which he is accused of taking 'up-skirting' images of a woman, has been remanded in custody since his arrest.