A FORMER Kent pest control officer accused of the parcel bomb murder of a wealthy housewife almost 20 years ago is due to appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow.

Keith Cottingham, 73, is alleged to have been responsible for the death in 1984 of 53-year-old Barbara Harrold who lived at Ightham.

She opened a package which blasted air gun darts and nails into her stomach. She died three days later in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Mr Cottingham had been living with his wife and two children in Jesus Pobre hamlet, near Benidorm, on the Costa Blanca, Spain, until his recent extradition to Britain.

A hearing in October heard that Mr Cottingham may be unfit to stand trial because he suffers from a form of dementia.

The Recorder of London, Michael Hyam, fixed the hearing for the issue of fitness to plead for December. The case is due for a mention tomorrow rather than the hearing.