The father of eight-year-old stab victim Mylee Billingham has been remanded in custody for a month after appearing in court via a prison videolink.
William Billingham was not asked to enter a plea to the murder charge during an eight-minute hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Billingham, of Brownhills, near Walsall, is accused of killing Mylee on January 20 and faces a separate charge of making threats to kill her mother, Tracey Taundry, on the same day.
The 54-year-old’s brother, former SAS soldier and celebrity bodyguard Mark Billingham, attended Thursday’s hearing, sitting in the public gallery as defence barrister David Mason QC made submissions to the court.
Mylee was pronounced dead in hospital after being found with knife wounds at her father’s bungalow in Valley View, Brownhills.
The defendant, who appeared on the videolink wearing a grey jumper, spoke only to confirm his name and that he could hear the proceedings clearly.
Judge Michael Challinor adjourned the proceedings until a further hearing at the same court on March 19.