A date has been set for the trial of a man charged with burglary following an incident in which another man died.

Stephen Pope, 35, of Waltham Abbey was pronounced dead at the scene when ambulance crews were called to an alleyway off Mason Way in Waltham Abbey at around 1pm on Thursday.

At the time when Mr Pope was found, there was a report of a break-in nearby and two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Albert Brinkley, 27, of no fixed address, is currently in custody charged with burglary and will stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on March 25.

No plea was entered during his appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

A 51-year-old has been bailed until April 7 pending further enquiries.

A post mortem on Friday found the cause of Mr Pope’s death to be suffocation.

It is believed a fence panel collapsed on him, although police are still investigating the circumstances of his death.

Anyone with information on both incidents can call police on 101.