A MAN has appeared in court to deny beheading his boss at a county golf club.

Jonathan Limani is accused of killing Christopher Varian at the Oxfordshire Golf Club in Milton Common, near Thame, in August 2010.

The 34-year-old defendant appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday and entered a not-guilty plea to one count of murder.

Mr Varian was decapitated while working at the club on August 21, 2010.

The 32-year-old was described by his family at the time as “a wonderful person, everyone’s friend”.

Limani, who was flanked by an Albanian interpreter in the dock yesterday, was living and working on site at the time.

Wearing jeans, an open-neck shirt and a casual jacket, he spoke in English to confirm his name and to enter his plea.

Members of Mr Varian’s family, who had travelled over from France, watched from the public gallery.

Judge Anthony King remanded Limani in custody before a trial on March 19 next year.

He said: “At the present time you have been transferred to Broadmoor special hospital. There, you are subject to a remand in custody.”

Prosecutor Alan Blake said the trial is expected to last two-and-a-half weeks, although defence barrister Richard Benson said: “It’s a generous estimate.

“We hope it would be complete within two weeks.”

Judge King told Mr Benson to provide a summary of the defence case within five weeks.

Limani’s custody time limit, the amount of time he can spend in prison awaiting trial, was extended for the second time until late March.

Judge King told the defendant: “You will be remanded in custody until March 21, or the beginning of your trial, now fixed for March 19, whichever is the earlier date.”