A MAN was due to stand trial today charged with the murder of an Ipswich hairdresser.Rodney Greenland, of Manchester Road, in the Chantry area of Ipswich, pleaded not guilty to murdering Simon Amers at an earlier hearing.

IPSWICH: A man was due to stand trial today charged with the murder of an Ipswich hairdresser.

Rodney Greenland, of Manchester Road, in the Chantry area of Ipswich, pleaded not guilty to murdering Simon Amers at an earlier hearing.

Greenland's Ipswich Crown Court trial is scheduled to last two weeks.

The 47-year-old was set to appear in Court 5 this morning before Judge John Devaux.

Greenland was arrested in Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, on Thursday, July 30 last year, the day Mr Amers' body was discovered at his home in Widgeon Close.

The 36-year-old was a familiar face in the pubs and clubs of Ipswich such as Pals, Betty's nightclub and The Cricketers. He was last seen on Monday, July 27, when he went out for an evening in Ipswich town centre.

Friends believe he went to The Plough public house in Dog's Head Street.

Mrs Amers' body was discovered by a friend after she went round to his home because she was unable to get hold of him on the telephone. It is believed he had sustained stab wounds.

Although openly gay, Mr Amers had an adult daughter, Becky, from a previous relationship. She is believed to live on Humberside.

Originally from Hull, Mr Amers came to Ipswich around 10 years ago after the death of his mother.

He lived on his own with his pet dog Wolfie for company.