Murder suspect remanded in custody
A murder suspect has been remanded in custody for nearly six months after he appeared at crown court for the first time.
Jonathon Morgan, 26, of Allergate, Durham City, is accused of murdering Christopher Ritchie in Mitchell Street, near the city’s bus station, on Thursday, March 19.
He appeared at Teesside
Crown Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody until Monday, September 7.
Morgan was charged on Sunday and made his first appearance in court before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Mr Ritchie died after he was stabbed in Mitchell Street, in Durham, just before 8.30am last Thursday.
Parts of North Road were sealed off while officers carried out their investigations.
About 30 detectives, crime scene investigators, uniformed officers and other staff were on the investigation after the alarm was raised.
A post-mortem examination later confirmed the 41-year-old died as a result of stab wounds. His heartbroken mam, Jean, paid tribute to him in a statement issued through Durham Police.
It read: “Christopher was kind-hearted and generous. He would do anything for anyone and would never hurt anyone.
“He was a loving son, brother and dad and we all love him to bits.”
Christopher also leaves behind his sister, Beverley, son, Robbie, stepsons Joel and Maximus, his former partner, Faye, brothers Eddie and Lee and niece, Jasmine.
Anyone with any information should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 56 of March 19, o anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.