A MAN accused of attempting to murder his father appeared before Taunton Crown Court on Friday (September 1).

Simon Baker, aged 56, of Creedwell Orchard, Milverton, appeared via a video link from Exeter Prison where he was being held on remand.

He has been charged with trying to kill his father Michael Baker by stabbing him in their home on August 2.

However, Baker told Judge Paul Cook that he was not legally represented and had not seen anybody since his first court appearance before magistrates on August 4.

Judge Cook heard Baker had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and following an assessment the previous day he was awaiting a transfer to a secure hospital bed as soon as one became available.

He asked for medical and psychiatric reports to be presented to the court in six weeks’ time and listed the case for a ‘fitness to plead’ hearing on November 8.

Judge Cook said he would schedule a trial date for December 6, by which time it should be known if Baker had the mental capacity to be tried.