A WOMAN accused of the murder of a man in a village car park has been released on bail.

Naomi Jane Myers, 21, is alleged to have killed Shaun Dalby, in Coxhoe, near Durham City, in the early hours of Tuesday.

She made a brief appearance at North Durham Magistrates' Court, in Consett, yesterday when the case was committed to Newcastle Crown Court so a bail application could be made on Ms Myers' behalf.

Under new legislation, which came into force this week, only crown court judges can rule on requests for bail in murder cases.

Tony Davis, for Ms Myers, made the bail application to Judge John Milford QC, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, this morning.

Judge Milford agreed to grant bail, to an address out of the area, but imposed a reporting restriction preventing its publication.

Other conditions were imposed by Judge Milford who adjourned the hearing until Thursday, April 29, when Ms Myers, of Park Avenue, Coxhoe, will be asked to give a plea.

Mr Dalby, 28, of Church Street, Coxhoe, was certified dead in a car park alongside the village Co-op store, where he was found under a Fiat Punto car, shortly after 1.30am.

A post-mortem examination has taken place, but further tests are to be carried out before a definitive cause of death is given.

Detectives investigating Mr Dalby's death have appealed for information and anyone with information is asked to ring Durham Police on 0345-60 60 365.