A MAN accused of battering his partner to death and setting their house on fire appeared at the Old Bailey to deny murder. Scott Lindsay, 27, is said to have started the blaze at his home in Dagenham, east London, in the early hours of November 19 last ye

A MAN accused of battering his partner to death and setting their house on fire appeared at the Old Bailey to deny murder.

Scott Lindsay, 27, is said to have started the blaze at his home in Dagenham, east London, in the early hours of November 19 last year.

His girlfriend Natalie Correa, 27, was found dead on the ground floor. A post-mortem revealed she had suffered a head injury.

Her two sons aged seven and nine, as well as Lindsay, were rescued by fire-fighters from the first floor of the building.

Lindsay appeared in the dock of the Old Bailey on Monday March 1 for a plea and case management hearing.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Members of the victim's family were in court as Judge Martin Stephens QC set the trial date for September 6 this year.

Lindsay, of Lake Gardens, Dagenham, east London, was remanded in custody.