A former Halesowen shopkeeper who murdered his wife will now have to wait until the end of July to be sentenced for the brutal crime.

Jackie Abbott's body was found in the back garden of the Lodge Crescent home she shared with her husband and their two sons in December last year.

The 54-year-old grandmother had suffered serious head injuries and Paul Abbott pleaded guilty to killing her when he faced Wolverhampton Crown Court in March.

But Abbott's plea will now be the subject of a 'Newton hearing', to decide upon the merits of his account which led to his guilty plea and is scheduled to take place over two days from July 25.

The 57-year-old has already been warned he is facing a life prison sentence for the murder, with the sentencing judge having to decide just how long he will have to spend behind bars.

Robert Price, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing a number of issues in the basis of plea put forward by Abbott had to be investigated fully before the case could be finalised.

It is believed the couple, who worked together at J & P Tackle on the Enterprise Trading Estate, Brierley Hill, which had recently moved from Halesowen, had argued fiercely over tickets to a concert by an Elvis Presley tribute band.