A MAN charged with the murder of Trinant father Ian Davies appeared in Cardiff Crown Court this morning.

Paul Mapps, 26, of Marshfield Court, Trinant, is charged with the murder of Mr Davies on January 11, 2014.

During the brief preliminary hearing, Mapps, wearing a grey sweatshirt, spoke only to confirm his name.

He appeared via video link from Cardiff Prison, where he is on remand.

Gwent Police were called to reports of an incident on Marshfield Road in Trinant at around 7.30pm on Saturday evening.

Mr Davies, 27, suffered what police called a “wound to the torso” and was taken to the Royal Gwent hospital where he later died the same night.

In a statement, his family said Ian was "a loving father, son, brother, nephew, cousin and a loyal friend to many."

Mapps, along with three others, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday.

Mapps' defence barrister is Jeff Jones and the prosecution barrister is John Warren.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Eleri Rees, told the court the next hearing will take place in April.

The three other people arrested on suspicion of murder are a 26-year-old man and two women aged 22 and 30. They have since been released on police bail pending further enquiries.