London, Jan 2 (IANS) A man describing himself as ‘Psycho Stapleton’ was charged with murdering Indian student Anuj Bidve who was shot dead on Boxing Day, BBC reported Monday.
Kiaran Stapleton, 20, of Salford, was remanded in custody by Manchester magistrates over the death of the 23-year-old in Ordsall Lane, Salford.
Bidve, from India, was studying at Lancaster University and was visiting Greater Manchester over Christmas.
He was shot in the head at close range at 01:30 GMT.
When asked his name in court, Stapleton replied: ‘Psycho. Psycho Stapleton’, BBC said.
The defendant, wearing a grey T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms and flanked by two police officers, then confirmed his date of birth.
Prosecutor Ben Southam told the court the case had to be sent to Manchester Crown Court as Stapleton was charged with murder.
Two senior officers from Greater Manchester Police Monday met Bidve’s family in their home town of Pune in India.
Assistant Chief Constable Dawn Copley, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘We felt it was important to make personal contact with the family and offer them every support we could at this difficult time.
‘We need to explain to them in person where we are up to in the investigation and what we are doing to ensure Anuj’s body is released to them as soon as possible.
‘Having this conversation face-to-face is absolutely the right thing to do and we will of course continue to provide whatever support we can when the family arrive in the UK and once they have returned home.’
Copley said officers had been liaising with the coroner about returning Bidve’s body to his family.
Bidve arrived in Britain in September, to study for a micro-electronics postgraduate qualification at Lancaster University, having completed an electronics degree at Pune University.
His family described him as a ‘loving son, a super-caring brother and first and forever a friend for many’.
Five people have so far been arrested by police in connection with the inquiry, the BBC said.
Three have been bailed until March 2012 pending further inquiries. A fourth man, aged 19, who was originally bailed Saturday has since had his bail cancelled, police said.
