Prostitute Murderer due in court- Britain

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LONDON, Jan 2 (Reuters) A man is due to appear in court today charged with the murders of five prostitutes in eastern England.

Steven Wright, 48, is accused of killing the women, whose naked bodies were found dumped for over 11 days around the town of Ipswich in Suffolk.
The local police chief said the speed of the murders was unprecedented in British criminal history.

Wright, who was arrested on December 19 after one of the country's biggest manhunts, is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court.

At his first court appearance last month, he did not enter a plea. He is charged with the murders of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.

Newspaper reports say Wright is a forklift truck driver and former steward on the Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship. He has three children and two former wives, according to reports.

Detectives launched the investigation on December 2 when Adams's body was found in a stream.

Wright's lawyer Paul Osler has appealed to the media to show restraint when they report the case.

''I would remind everybody about the presumption of innocence,'' he said before the first court hearing, adding that his client was ''bearing up well''.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, said the media must be careful not to prejudice future court proceedings.

A 37-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder inquiry has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.