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Ms Delavary appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday alongside Alireza Askari, 41, from Penylan, who is charged with murdering Ms Veisi.

Ms Delavary and Mr Askari's four-week trial was set for 6 October.

“While orcas are common to California, we just haven’t seen them come to Southern California in a couple of years,” Askari said.

Askari said the aquatic mammals are in the area in greater frequency because of an increased abundance of dolphins, a staple of their diet.

Most orcas seen off California are spotted near Monterey or farther up the coast, Askari said.