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A 23-year-old French-Algerian will go on trial accused of the murder of a Lewis man in London.

John Duncan Macrae died by a single stab wound to his chest , which cut a main artery, at his shared address in Caledonian Road, Holloway, North London, on the evening of Wednesday 15 July last year. Mr Macrae, who had problems with hard drugs, had been living there for about six years. He was originally from Lewis.

It is alleged that Yamine Ladghem-Chikouche, who had had stayed with Mr Macrae for a short period of time prior to his death, murdered the frail and vulnerable man.

John Macrae died after a main artery was cut

Murder trial over death of Lewis man       26/6/10

Yamine Ladghem-Chikouche pleaded not guilty to murder.

The accused was arrested in Paris when the Metropolitan Police traced him to his parent’s home after a large scale appeal.

At the time police said the pair were involved in a confrontation over a small bag of heroin.

Ladghem-Chikouche was extradited and appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday. He lodged a plea of not guilty. Trial was set for October.