A HUSBAND and wife are set to go on trial later this year for the alleged murder of their five-year-old daughter in Co Antrim.
The case against Aleksandra and Abdul Wahab has been listed for a preliminary enquiry at Belfast Magistrates' Court in May.
Prosecutors will then apply to have the couple returned for trial based on the evidence said to connect them to the death of Nadia Kalinowkska.
Nadia died at the family's home on Fernagh Drive, Newtownabbey in December 2019.
She had head and abdominal wounds, including multiple fractures said to be at various stages of healing.
Mrs Wahab, a 26-year-old Polish national, and her 32-year-old Pakistani husband - Nadia's stepfather - were arrested and have remained in custody ever since.
The couple deny any wrongdoing and claim Nadia was a clumsy, accident-prone child who sustained the fatal injuries falling down stairs in the middle of the night.
But based on the contents of an autopsy report, a decision was taken to jointly charge them with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
Police have also sent 1,500 pages of material to the Public Prosecution Service as part of the investigation.
In court yesterday District Judge Fiona Bagnall confirmed that a preliminary enquiry into the evidence will be held on May 4.
Both Mr and Mrs Wahab will have to appear for the hearing, which involves an initial assessment of the prima facie case against them.
Any challenge to the strength of the prosecution can still be mounted if and when they are returned for Crown Court trial.