An alleged murderer’s trial has been put back by two months.

Eugen Coman, 33, had been due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court in April accused of murdering former housemate Leonid Laboshin in Pinnocks Way, Botley, last October.

Mr Laboshin, an IT programmer moved to Oxford from Russia, was stabbed in the neck and torso.

At a hearing on Monday morning, Judge Ian Pringle QC agreed, after representations from both the prosecution and defence, to take the trial out of the list in April.

He re-fixed the trial for June 20. The case is expected to last two to three weeks.

Coman, who is remanded in custody, was not present at Monday’s hearing.

Last year, the family of alleged victim Mr Laboshin paid tribute to the 31-year-old.

They described him as an ‘amazingly bright’ man who taught himself English and came to Oxford to work as an IT programmer on the ‘timely detection of cancer’.

“He was a caring and loving son, brother and uncle. He loved to play guitar and learnt to play the violin and piano. He loved music,” they said.

“After graduating from the University of St Petersburg. He taught himself English and made plans for his life with enthusiasm.

“For Leonid’s Father, Mother, Sister and friends this is not a loss, it is an endless pain.”

Neighbours said Mr Laboshin was a talented pianist.

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