MANINDER Pal Singh Kohli today denied the kidnap, rape, and murder of Southampton teenager Hannah Foster.

Kohli, 40, pleaded not guilty to the three allegations as well as a fourth charge of false imprisonment of Miss Foster, 17.

Her body was found by the roadside in Allington Lane, West End, in March 2003.

Kohli was arrested in India in July 2004 and after a long legal battle was extradited to the UK last summer.

Today at Winchester Crown Court Kohli appeared wearing a white t-shirt, white shirt, and dark trousers and flanked by three prison officers. An interpreter was sworn in to translate the proceedings into Kohli's native language Punjabi.

The court heard the likeliest date for a trial, estimated to last three to six weeks, would be next October.

The judge, the Recorder of Winchester, Michael Brodrick, said he wanted the case heard as soon as possible.

He said: "We have a family here of a young girl and this is already quite an old case, nearly five years.

"They will want to get the case tried and know the result as soon as possible. I have to try and ensure that process is done justly."

After the 40 minute hearing the judge remanded Kohli into custody.

A further pre-trial hearing is due to be held at Winchester in January.