A Perthshire husband is to stand trial charged with murdering his wife then hiding her body in a cupboard.
John Lizanec is accused of killing Michelle Lizanec, 44, at a house in Orchard Way, Inchture, on February 13 last year.
It is claimed the 47-year-old grabbed his wife by the head and struck her on the neck with a knife.
Lizanec is also charged with then attempting to defeat the ends of justice after the alleged murder in the Carse of Gowrie, between Perth and Dundee.
Prosecutors claim he concealed Mrs Lizanec’s body within a cupboard at the house in Inchture.
Lizanec is said to have cleaned blood from himself, changed his clothes and disposed of his wife’s phone.
The charge further states he fled to a house in Balunie Street, Dundee and then barricaded himself inside in a bid to “evade arrest”.
Lizanec faces separate charges of acting in a threatening manner, as well as engaging in abusive behaviour towards Michelle.
His QC Ronnie Renucci pled not guilty on his behalf during a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
Prosecutor Shanti Maguire asked for a trial to be fixed.
Lady Stacey set a trial due to begin on September 6 in Edinburgh.
A further hearing will take place before then.
Fundraiser for children
The grief-stricken community paid tribute to Michelle Lizanec after her death.
A fundraiser was set up to support the mother-of-three’s children.
Suzanne Cunningham, who began the appeal, said at the time: “Michelle Lizanec was a loving, big hearted woman that wholeheartedly loved her kids and would do anything for them.”
