Two teenagers charged with shop man murder
TWO teenage boys have been charged with the murder of Manchester shopkeeper Amarjeet Singh in North Wales and are expected to go on trial in October.
The defendants appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday afternoon.
The pair, aged 15 and 16, cannot be publicly identified at this stage.
The eldest appeared in court via a live link from custody while the other appeared in the dock. One of the youths has been additionally charged with the wounding of another man.
No pleas were entered at this stage.
Mr Singh, 37, from Burnage, was known as ‘VJ.’ He died on Prince Edward Avenue in Rhyl, in North Wales, at 3am on Sunday after what police described as a ‘violent disturbance.’
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies remanded both teen defendants in custody at Thursday’s hearing.
The case was adjourned for mention to June 7 when it is hoped that others charged with violent disorder are due to be linked.
A plea hearing will be held for the two boys on July 6 and a trial date has been earmarked for October 3 at Mold Crown Court.
The trial, said prosecuting barrister Matthew Curtis, could involve a total of seven defendants and could last five or six weeks.
Mr Curtis applied for a remand in custody. He said that the police investigation was ongoing.
Defending barrister Simon Killeen made no application for bail.
The judge granted representation so that each boy can be separately represented by a QC.
Amarjeet Singh was allegedly stabbed during an incident at Prince Edward Avenue in Rhyl on Sunday morning, April 30.
He was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital but later died.
Five men have been charged with violent disorder in relation to the incident.
Tributes have been paid to the deceased who was described as ‘the most genuine person you could ever meet.’
Mr Singh, who was married with two children aged two and eight years-old, had run designer clothes shop Nope in the White Rose Centre in Rhyl for around 18 months.
He was also well known around North Wales markets, notably at Tir Prince in Towyn, over the last eight years.