Trial date for two men accused of murdering dad David
TWO men have appeared in court in Derby after being charged with the murder of a man who died after being assaulted in the street.
Both dressed in grey tops, Brandon Brooks and Ben Hart were not asked to enter any pleas when they appeared over separate prison video-links into Derby Crown Court on Tuesday.
The pair are accused of killing David Thompson who was rushed to hospital after suffering serious head injuries during an incident in Elmton Road, near to Ours Bar, Creswell, at around 1.30am on Saturday, January 27.
The 50-year-old, from Clowne, had remained there in a critical condition, but died in the early hours of Thursday, February 15.
Following his death last week Brooks, 24, of Fairfield Close, Nether Langwith, and Hart, 20, of Skinner Street, Creswell, were charged with his murder.
In a previous statement, Mr Thompson’s daughter, Emma Thompson said: “Even though Dad was 50, he was full of life and enjoyed spending time with his family. He would do anything for anybody. We would like to ask for privacy at this time while we grieve for our loss.”
Setting a trial date of August 19, with an estimated time length of two weeks and remanding both men into custody, Judge Shaun Smith KC, Recorder of Derby, said: “We are a long way from that date and there are a lot of things to be done and the next time I am going to ask you to come back before this court will be May 10. It may be there will be applications for you to appear sooner than that but that is a matter for the other parties.”
Brooks and Hart, whose father was in the public gallery to support his son did not apply for bail, will next appear at the same court on May 10 when they will be expected to enter their pleas.
When the pair were charged last week, Det Insp Maria Pleace, who is leading the investigation, said: “While we continue to work hard to investigate and understand what happened that night, our thoughts remain with David’s family and friends. We would also urge anyone with any information, CCTV, doorbell or dashcam footage from the area that night, who hasn’t yet come forward, to contact us.”
Since the incident, officers from the local safer neighbourhood policing team have increased patrols in the area and are urging anyone in the community with any information to speak to them.