A Camden builder today appeared in court to deny raping and murdering a 17-year-old woman in 1982.

James Warnock, 56, is accused of strangling and raping Yiannoulla Yianni at her family home in Belsize Road, South Hampstead, on August 13 1982.

Warnock, a heavily built man with a beard and glasses was dressed in a grey t-shirt to appear via video link at the Old Bailey this morning.

Members of the Yianni family were in court to hear the builder, who was 23 at the time of the schoolgirl’s death, plead not guilty to one charge of rape and another of murder.

No bail application was made and he was remanded in custody until May 20 when he will reappear via videolink for another preliminary hearing.

The Recorder of London, judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, set a trial date for June 27 this year at the Old Bailey.

Yiannoulla went to Quintin Kynaston School, in St John’s Wood, and worked part-time at Woolworths in Finchley Road.

A murder inquiry was launched by the Met on August 13 1982, after Yiannoulla’s parents found their daughter’s body at the family home

Detectives interviewed more than 1,000 people in connection with the case and put up a £10,000 reward for information.

Warnock was charged in January this year after being linked to the case by DNA following his arrest on separate allegations.