Trial date set for man charged with murders of Burnley doctor and her teenage daughter

A trial date has been set for a man charged with the murders of a doctor and her teenage daughter in Burnley.
By Susan Plunkett
Published 13th Oct 2020, 14:56 BST
Updated 13th Oct 2020, 15:54 BST
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Shabaz Khan ( 51) appeared at Preston Crown Court by videolink today charged with the murders of Saman Mir Sacharvi (49) and 14-year-old Vian Mangrio.

Police launched an investigation after the mother and daughter were found dead in their fire-damaged house in Reedley, near Burnley, on Thursday, October 1st.

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Khan, from Ribble Avenue, Burnley, is also charged with a single count of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

A man has appeared in court charged with the murders of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi (49) and heer 14-year-old daughter Vian Mangrio.A man has appeared in court charged with the murders of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi (49) and heer 14-year-old daughter Vian Mangrio.
A man has appeared in court charged with the murders of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi (49) and heer 14-year-old daughter Vian Mangrio.

The defendant, appearing from HMP Preston, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. No pleas were entered to the charges.

Honorary Recorder of Preston Judge Robert Altham listed a trial, estimated to last up to four weeks, for June 1st next year. A plea and trial preparation hearing was set for Monday, December 21st.

Dr Sacharvi, a junior doctor with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, was found to have been assaulted and died from pressure to her neck.

Post-mortem investigations are continuing on her daughter, so a cause of death has not been established, but police said the youngster was badly burned.