A man charged with the murder of his wife who was found stabbed to death at a derelict former Victorian mental health hospital is currently unfit to enter a plea.

Police were called to the site in Thorpe St Andrew near Norwich at around 12.45pm on Friday following reports that a woman, later identified as mother-of-three Gemma Cowey, had been found with serious injuries.

Emergency services attended the site off Yarmouth Road but despite treatment the 38-year-old died at the scene.

Michael Cowey, 48, of Dragoon Close, Thorpe St Andrew, has been charged with murder and possession of knives in a public place and the case was listed at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday (August 18) for a plea and trial preparation hearing (PTPH), although the defendant did not attend as he is in hospital and “currently unfit” to enter a plea.

The case was adjourned until October 9.

Potential trial dates of December 7 and January 4 had previously been identified.