A MAN has appeared in court charged with the murder of race hate victim Lee Phipps.

Lee Trevor Nicholls, 20, of Borough Road, South Shields, South Tyneside stood charged with the murder of Lee Phipps, 31, whose mother was of Somalian descent.

Nicholls did not enter a plea during the hearing at South Tyneside Magistrate's Court, which lasted eight minutes.

Lee Phipps, a keen amateur photographer was killed when he went out to take pictures of the March snowfalls.

The 31-year-old devout Christian wrapped up warm then left his home at 4.16pm slung his camera bag over his shoulder and set off through the snow.

Minutes later, after speaking to his mother on the phone, and, police believe, being chased from the path towards nearby houses, he was stabbed through the heart.

At the hearing, Nicholls spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Magistrates ordered the case to be heard next at Newcastle Crown Court on April 12.

Nicholls, who entered the dock flanked by two security guards, was remanded in custody until that time.

Magistrates told him: "The offence with which you have been charged can only be dealt with at Newcastle Crown Court so we are sending you there.

"The preliminary hearing will be held on April 12 and you will attend via videolink."

Police who investigated the murder revealed Lee and his mum Margaret Yusuf-Porter, 53, had suffered racial taunts in the past.