A TAXI driver has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a prostitute who was missing for almost a decade.

The body of Becky Godden, 20, was found in a shallow grave in a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, eight years after she disappeared.

Christopher Halliwell, 52, who appeared in court via videolink from Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, denied murdering Miss Godden between January

1 2003 and April 4 2008 at a plea and case management hearing at Bristol Crown Court.

Halliwell, a father-of-three, previously of Ashbury Avenue, Swindon, was charged by Wiltshire Police on March 30.

The last confirmed sighting of Miss Godden before her remains were found in March 2011 was by a police officer in Swindon in December 2002.

Her family thought Miss Godden, who had drifted into drugs and prostitution, was living in the Bristol area.

She had broken off contact with her family after saying she could not put her mother, Karen Edwards, through the pain of watching her succumb to drugs.

Halliwell, who was wearing a brown T-shirt and glasses, appeared at court via videolink from Long Lartin.

The court heard that Halliwell has decided to represent himself during the trial, which will begin on September 5 in Bristol before retired High Court judge Sir John Griffith Williams.

Miss Godden's parents, Karen Edwards and John Godden, sat in a packed public gallery to hear prosecutor Nicholas Haggan QC say that 100 witnesses, including nine experts, could give evidence during the trial.

A further pre-trial hearing will take place before the end of July on a date to be fixed.

Mr Justice Openshaw remanded Halliwell into custody and told him: "Okay Mr Halliwell, I will now speak to the trial judge to suggest that he arranges a date towards the end of July and the case will be mentioned again for a series of further orders to be made.

"I have suggested to Mr Haggan that he produce a document setting out the 100 or so witnesses who presently are to give evidence against you, and setting out very briefly the nature of the evidence they are to give, and you should indicate whether you require them to attend in person."