Father of Spain death siblings denies child sex charges
A man whose wife is accused of killing their children in Spain has pleaded not guilty to child sex offences.
Martin Smith is charged with rape, attempted rape, gross indecency and indecent assault of a child under 16.
The charges are unrelated to those facing Lianne Smith, 43, being held in Barcelona on suspicion of murdering Rebecca, five, and 11-month-old Daniel.
Appearing at Carlisle Crown Court, Mr Smith, 45, of North Shields, denied the charges and was remanded in custody.
A provisional date for a trial at Manchester Crown Court has been set for 1 November.
The charges relate to offences allegedly committed between May 1995 and April 2004 against one child.
He was arrested in Barcelona on 7 May and extradited to the UK.
The couple's children were found dead at the Hotel Miramar in Lloret de Mar, on the Costa Brava, on 18 May.
Post-mortem examinations established they died of asphyxiation.
Mrs Smith has appeared in court and admitted asphyxiating her children with a plastic bag, Spanish court officials said.