A MAN accused of triple manslaughter after a minibus was hit by a train in Charlton near Evesham will be pleading not guilty, a judge was told on Monday.

Adnan Kadir Karim, aged 25, of Carpenters Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, is alleged to have been the driver of the vehicle in which three men died.

The minibus was in collision with a train on July 7 while it was on a private level crossing at Pools Farm, Charlton, near Evesham.

Karim was charged with three counts of manslaughter when he appeared before Worcester magistrates after the horror crash.

Richard Atkins, for the Crown, told Judge Michael Mott that the case papers had been served late on defence lawyers. More material has still to be served.

Mr Atkins and Charles Hamer, defending, made a joint application for a plea and directions hearing at Worcester Crown Court on October 31.

Judge Michael Mott agreed and remanded the defendant back into custody until that date. No charges were put to him during the brief hearing.

Mr Hamer said that in due course "not guilty pleas" would be entered by Karim, an Iraqi Kurd who speaks no English. The trial is expected to last two weeks because of the need for interpreters.

Judge Mott has asked the court to explore a listing date for the trial.

Those who died were Soran Karim, 23, of Maclagan Street, Stoke-on-Trent, and Satish Kumar, 28, and Islam Uddin Ahmed, 46, both from Smethwick, Birmingham.