A CHRISTMAS Day stabbing victim was seriously ill in hospital and hopes for his recovery were poor, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Mr Francis Laird said the case against 39-year-old Janusz Suwala, who is accused of attempted murder, might "develop" in the next few days.

Suwala, a Polish national who followed proceedings through a Russian interpreter, was remanded in custody after a seven-minute appearance.

No charge was put to him during the preliminary hearing and he will be before the court again on March 6 for a plea and case management hearing.

Suwala, of Greatfield Road, Kidderminster, is alleged to have stabbed a 20-year-old man, who has not been named, during an incident at a flat in Greatfield Road.

Mr Laird said the injured man had only regained consciousness for brief spells and had not been able to communicate with anyone. The prognosis was not good.

Mr Zaheer Afzal, defending, said it was not a complicated case. Identification was not an issue and it hinged on intent.