FARNHAM pharmacist Bipin Desai is set to face trial next week after his ‘assisted suicide’ case was committed to Guildford Crown Court.

Mr Desai, the 58-year-old former owner of Vaughan James Chemist in West Street, appeared before magistrates on Thursday charged with murder, assisted suicide ‘in the alternative’ and two counts of theft.

He was remanded in custody following the appearance at Guildford Magistrates Court and is due to appear before a crown court judge on Monday, November 14. morning.

It comes 15 months after the ‘suspicious’ death of Mr Desai’s father, Dhirajlal Desai in August 2015.

The pharmacist was arrested on August 29, 2015 at his home in The Street, Dockenfield, two days after police discovered the body of 85-year-old Dhirajlal at the same address.

A post-mortem on Dhirajlal’s body was carried out in September last year but failed to determine a cause of death.

Bipin, a married father-of-two, was released on bail seven times while the police investigation continued, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) finally confirmed his charges on Wednesday evening.

Mr Desai sold Vaughan James Chemist four years ago but, at the time of his arrest last year, still managed the pharmacy three days a week from Thursday to Saturday on behalf of its new owner.

He was suspended from the General Pharmaceutical Council by a fitness-to-practice committee on October 5, 2015, however, and has not worked at the chemist since. His suspension remains in force.

A CPS spokesperson said: “After an assessment of the evidence provided to us by the police it has been decided that Bipin Desai should face one charge of murder, with assisted suicide in the alternative, in relation to the death of his father, Dhirajlil Desai, on August 26, 2015. He will also face two charges of theft.

“This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the DPP’s guidelines on cases of encouraging or assisting suicide.”

Mr Desai was accompanied at court by his wife and two sons on Thursday, and spoke only to confirm his name, address and that he understood the charges.

He did not enter a plea and his lawyer Kishoree Kotecha-Pau made no submissions to the court.

His trial is expected to begin with a plea and trial preparation hearing on Monday, followed by a full hearing at a later date.