Man accused of stabbing young mum to death in West Lothian home and stealing underwear

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A man has appeared in court charged with battering and stabbing a young mum to death in her home. Michael Porchetta is accused of murdering Aimee Jane Cannon by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a knife or knives before stealing her underwear.He is also charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice by concealing and destroying evidence.

Porchetta, described as a prisoner at Edinburgh, allegedly dumped the murder weapons and stole the 26-year-old’s mobile phone, her house and car keys before disposing of them as well.The charge also includes an allegation that he washed or wiped a pair of trainers in an attempt to remove the mum of two's blood from them.

Porchetta, 26, who like his alleged victim lived in West Calder, West Lothian, did not tender a plea to the three charges during a brief hearing at the High Court in Livingston on Wednesday.Ronnie Renucci, defending, told the High Court at Livingston that there would be “a plea in bar of trial”.

In the meantime, the court fixed an evidential hearing to determine whether Porchetta is fit to tender a plea.He said: “Various reports from the Crown and the defence have been lodged and the court is invited to fix an evidential hearing on 25 October at Edinburgh High Court.