An alleged people-smuggling leader will go on trial in November over the deaths 39 men, women and children in a lorry trailer in Essex.

The Vietnamese nationals were found dead in the container which had been transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet early on October 23 2019.

Marius Mihai Draghici, 49, was detained by police in Romania last August.

He is charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration with haulier Caolan Gormley and others.

At an Old Bailey hearing on Friday, Judge Anthony Leonard confirmed Draghici and Gormley would face trial from November 6.

Draghici stood in the dock but declined to enter pleas to the charges against him, saying: “I don’t want to do it today.”

Gormley, 25, from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, has previously denied the charge of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration and was not required to attend the hearing.

It is alleged he allowed vehicles in his road haulage fleet to be used for the transport of migrants into the UK.

The four-week trial for Draghici and Gormley will be heard before a High Court judge.

Draghici is in custody and Gormley remains on conditional bail.