Boy of 13 in court after dad ‘is kicked to death’ in churchyard
A BOY aged 13 has appeared in court charged with the murder of a businessman who was kicked to death in the grounds of a church.
He was detained on Wednesday after father-of-two Steven McMyler was attacked by a gang at Wigan Parish Church.
Mr McMyler, 34, who ran a joinery and construction business, is said to have been kicked in the head and hit with a bottle.
He was found by passersby on August 6 but died at the scene. The boy, from Knowsley, Merseyside, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday appeared before a district judge at Manchester magistrates court.
He wore light grey tracksuit bottoms and T-shirt and was flanked by two guards in the dock.
The youth was quizzed about his name, date of birth, address and who was representing him as his grandparents sat at the front of court.
He was remanded into secure youth accommodation before an appearance at Bolton Crown Court on Monday.
Mr McMyler, who lived in Wigan, is thought to have worked for the National Grid before setting up his construction businesses.
An online appeal has helped raise almost £5,000 to pay for his funeral.
Earlier this week his family said “he had a heart of gold” and they were “struggling to come to terms with this terrible tragedy”.
On Thursday, Jordan Short, 19, from Kirkby, Merseyside, appeared before Wigan magistrates charged with murder. He was sent to crown court for trial.
Three men aged 18, 19 and 30 have also been held on suspicion of murder and an 18-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All four have since been released on bail.
Det Insp Wes Knights, from Greater Manchester Police, said the public’s response had been “terrific” but urged people to come forward “to help give Steven’s family and loved ones the answers they so desperately need at this tragic time”.