SIR Richard Sutton's stepson has today denied the murder of the millionaire hotelier who was stabbed to death in his £2m mansion.
Thomas Schreiber, 34, appeared at a crown court charged with killing his wealthy 84 year old stepfather and the attempted murder of his own mother on April 7.
The alleged attack took place at Moorhill estate in the hamlet of Higher Langham, near Gillingham, Dorset.
Schreiber, appearing in the dock today at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, spoke only to confirm his name and deny murdering Sir Richard.
Fair-haired and unshaven Schreiber, wearing a grey jumper, also denied the attempted murder of his 65 year old mother, Anne Schreiber, who is Sir Richard's partner.
Schreiber also denied one count of dangerous driving, relating to his driving of a Range Rover on motorways in the south of England on the night of April 7.
Recorder of Winchester, Her Honour Judge Angela Morris, adjourned the case until a provisional further case management hearing on October 8.
A provisional trial date has already been set for November 29.
The 34-year-old was detained by armed police in April in Chiswick, West London, after the 83-year-old was killed at his home in Dorset.
Schreiber's mum and Sir Sutton's wife Anne Schreiber, 65, was also found to have suffered knife wounds and was left in a “critical” condition in hospital.
Three hours after the killing, police dramatically stopped Schreiber's Range Rover in Hammersmith, west London, after tracking it across five counties.
The 34-year-old was arrested on suspicion of murder and police later confirmed he was known to the victim.
Sir Richard was listed at number 435 in the Sunday Times Rich List last year with an estimated family fortune of £301million – a rise of £83million on the previous year.
The guide says Sir Richard's company owns London hotels the Sheraton Grand Park Lane and the Athenaeum, plus three smaller venues.
He had an extensive property and farming portfolio, including the 6,500-acre Benham Estate in west Berkshire and the Stainton Estate in Lincolnshire.
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