A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of teenager Gemma Louise Roberts.

During a 20-minute hearing at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court, Richard Mark Hanson, 20, pleaded not guilty.

Gemma, 18, died after she was attacked in Liversedge last Thursday night.

Hanson, of Stubley Lane, Liversedge, who remained handcuffed throughout the proceedings, was committed for trial at Leeds Crown Court.

Presiding magistrate Elizabeth Heptonstal told him: "As the charge is an indictable offence it can only be sent to the crown court."

More than ten members of Gemma's family were at the hearing. Relatives of the defendant, who is tall and slim, with dark hair, were also in court.

At one point the court was called to order by Mrs Heptonstal after words were exchanged between Hanson and people in the public gallery.

No application for bail was made by Hanson's solicitor, Carl Kingsley, and he was remanded in custody.

Solicitor David Holderness appeared for the prosecution.

Hanson was arrested last Friday afternoon and charged with Gemma's murder on Monday night.

An investigation, headed by Detective Chief Superinten-dent Andy Brennan, was started after Gemma was found collapsed and bleeding from a gash in her throat in the car park of the Swan pub in Liversedge shortly after 8pm on September 21.

Pub customers desperately applied towels to her neck, trying to stop the flow of blood. She was pronounced dead at Dewsbury District Hospital.

Floral tributes were later placed at the spot where she collapsed. Many were accompanied by moving messages from friends, family and residents of Liversedge.

A statement later issued by Gemma's family described her as "carefree". It said she had found love with boyfriend Ryan Adamson, whom she is believed to have lived with in Liversedge. Ryan said in a statement: "I loved her so much because she made me happy."

Her family declined to make any further comment following yesterday's court hearing.

Hanson was committed to appear at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday, October 3.