Three deny murder of 22-year-old man
THREE people have denied the murder of a 22-year-old man.
Police were called to reports that a man was found with a single stab wound in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on July 4.
Byron Griffin, of East Leake, was taken from the scene in Eyre’s Garden to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he died.
Four men have appeared in court in relation to the incident.
Dylan Geary, 21, Daniel Lewsley, 32, and Grant James Masterson, 29, all of Great Northern Close, Ilkeston, all pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Griffin.
Jordan Fairbrother, 26, of Nelson Street, Swadlincote, was not asked to enter his plea at the short hearing at Derby Crown Court as he is yet to discuss the matter with his defence team in person.
Appearing over links from HMP Durham and HMP Leeds, the quartet were dressed in T-shirts and sweatshirts and spoke only to confirm their names and, with the exception of Fairbrother, enter their pleas. Judge Nirmal Shant QC, Honorary Recorder of Derby, remanded the four men into custody.
A trial date was set for January 4 and could last as long as six weeks.
William Harbage QC prosecuted the case for the short hearing, during which no details of the alleged incident were revealed.
He said: “There will be applications for special measures (screens in court) for at least four witnesses who gave interviews.”
Following her son’s death, Mr Griffin’s mother, Zoe Cooke, released a statement which said: “Byron’s death has absolutely devastated my family.
“He is my only son and leaves behind three sisters, aged 10, 11 and 27, who will never, ever get over this.
“Byron was loved by so many – to the point that one of his old teachers came to see me to pay his condolences despite him leaving school years ago.
“Byron was my absolute heartbeat and our lives will never be the same again – the pain is absolutely unbearable.
“We are all devastated beyond belief and I wouldn’t wish this on any parent.
“My boy will never hold or kiss me again and I will never come to terms with that.”
Derbyshire Police said they are still keen to hear from anyone with information, in particular any drivers with a dashcam who were in Cotmanhay Road between Charlotte Street and Awsworth Road on Sunday, July 4, between 11am and 3.30pm.