11.30 UPDATE: David Clark has appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court in the last half hour for the alleged murder of a 44-year-old woman. 

No pleas were taken during the short two-minute hearing and Mr Clark, who dressed in a grey shirt and grey bottoms in the court two dock, only spoke to confirm his name and that he understood proceedings.

Prosecuting Peter Love asked for the matter to be sent to crown court, and defending Sam Lamsdale made no representations. 

Mark Holloway, legal adviser, told the magistrates that the matter could in "no way, shape or form be dealt with at this court", which magistrates agreed. 

Chairman of the bench Michelle Edwards asked Mr Clark to stand and told him he was remanded in custody to appear at Worcester Crown Court before 11am on January 4.

Original story:

A MAN has been charged with the murder of a 44-year-old woman who was declared dead in the first minutes of 2018.

David Clark, 49, has been charged with the murder of the woman, from Bromsgrove, who was declared dead by paramedics at Mr Clark's property in Cloverdale, Bromsgrove, at 12.12am.

Police were called to the address at 11.52pm on New Year's Eve where they discovered the woman with a suspected knife injury.

The woman's next of kin has been informed and they are awaiting formal identification, a police spokesman said.

Clark was set to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday, January 2).