Funeral for victim of road death
MAN KILLED IN SUSPECTED HIT AND RUN LAIDTO REST
ALLEGED hit and run murder vic- tim Gary Wood has been laid to rest.
The 42-year-old was taken to his final resting place in a horse-drawn carriage which formed part of a Manchester United-themed procession.
Gary died five days after being knocked down by a car on Seaham Road in Houghton-le-Spring.
Mourners walked solemnly through the town on Friday as his red coffin, draped in white flowers, was taken to the St Michael & All Angel Church, where a funeral service was held.
And a sea of flowers and cards were left outside.
Four people have appeared in court charged with murder in connection with Gary’s death, last month. Liam Carr was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving but he is now accused of murder.
Gareth Bainbridge and two 17-year-olds are also jointly accused of Mr Wood’s murder.
All four are also charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent on another man last month.
Bainbridge, 38, of School Road, Houghton-le-Spring, and one of the youths pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The charges were not put to Carr, 19, of Langdon Road, Newcastle, and the other teenager.
A trial date was set for November and the defendants will be back in court in September for a further pretrial hearing.
Judge Paul Sloan told the two adult accused, who appeared on a videolink from prison: “I’m going to adjourn your cases now for a further pre-trial hearing on September 15.
“Pending that next hearing you are both remanded in custody.”
The two 17-year-olds, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were released on conditional bail.
Mr Wood lived on Seaham Road, Houghton-le-Spring, where the collision is said to have taken place at around 9.40pm on Friday, June 2.
He was taken to hospital by paramedics, where he later died.