Woman denies concealing knives and lying to the police over alleged New Year's Day stabbing
Karla Pukutova, 31, denies perverting the course of justice following the alleged murder of Alberto Urso
A woman accused of concealing knives and providing false accounts to the police has pleaded not guilty following a fatal stabbing on New Year’s Day.
Karla Pukutova, 31, denies perverting the course of justice following the alleged murder of Alberto Urso, 38, during an alleged attack on Essex Street in Rochdale in the early hours of January 1 this year.
Ms Pukutova, of Essex Street, Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday morning, April 23, to enter not guilty pleas to the offence. A trial has been set in relation to Ms Pukutova and her co-defendant, Hassan Suliman, who is charged with murder.
Emergency services were called out to Essex Street at around 2.40am on New Year's Day. Mr Ursu was found with a fatal knife wound, Greater Manchester Police previously said.
In February this year, Mr Suliman, 30, of Rothesay Terrace in Rochdale, appeared at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court where he denied six charges, including one of murder.
Speaking through a Sudanese interpreter, he entered not guilty pleas to the alleged murder of Alberto Urso, two counts of possessing an article or bladed point, namely a kitchen knife, on Essex Street and another charge of possessing an offensive weapon on Essex Street, namely a wooden chair, on January 1.
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The defendant also denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm to a woman between December 13 and January 2, 2025. He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating another woman between December 13 and January 2, 2025.
A further case management hearing was set for June 9, with the trial date scheduled for July 28. Ms Pukutova was granted unconditional bail until the next hearing date.
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