The trial of a 20-year-old man charged over an alleged bomb hoax that forced a Peter Kay comedy show to be evacuated has been postponed until May next year.
Omar Majed, who has yet to enter a plea to communicating false information to police contrary to the Criminal Law Act, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court via video-link from hospital on Wednesday.
Evacuation and charge
Kay, 53, was ushered off stage during his show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, which was part of the Better Late Than Never national tour, on May 1 and the show was cancelled after the evacuation.
West Midlands Police later said the evacuation was ordered following a report of a suspicious bag, but “nothing suspicious was found” during searches.
Court proceedings
The defendant, from Saltley in Birmingham, wore a dark round-necked jumper to the 20-minute hearing in front of Judge Andrew Smith KC and appeared to be listening intently to proceedings as he leaned forward in his chair and nodded at various points.
Judge Smith told the court a trial date of November 3, which was set at a previous hearing that was cut short after Majed started to remove his clothes, was to be vacated.
New trial date
He said the trial would instead be listed for May 17 next year, with a time estimate of eight days.
The judge said the trial was to be delayed to allow for further investigation work to be carried out.
A further pre-trial review hearing was set for April 16 next year to allow for expert reports to be served by the end of March.
