Men deny murder over New Year
TWO men have denied murdering a man found with serious head injuries on New Year’s Day.
Ashley Cochrane was discovered at a hostel in Byker on January 1 and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Three men - Sean Histon, Lee Annis and George Dixon - were later charged with murdering Mr Cochrane.
Now Histon and Annis have pleaded not guilty to the offence while the plea hearing for Dixon was put back until Friday.
Judge Paul Sloan QC told Histon and Annis they will stand trial on July 4.
He added: “I’m going to adjourn your cases to a further pre-trial hearing on March 29.
“Before that date you will be required to provide a defence case statement setting out, in each if your cases, your defence to this charge. And that document must be sufficiently detailed - if it is not an adverse reference could be drawn against you.
“Your legal teams will be through to assist with the preparation of that document. Pending the next hearing, you are remanded in custody.”
Mr Cochrane was discovered by police in the early hours of New Year’s Day at Catherine House on Shields Road, Byker.
The 29-year-old was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary with head injuries but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Histon, 32, of Mitford Gardens, Wallsend, Annis, 39, of Fletcher House, Percy Main, North Shields and Dixon, 38, of Shields Road, Byker, who all appeared on videolinks from prison, were further remanded in custody.
We reported previously how specialist officers are supporting Mr Cochrane’s family.
His friends took to the ChronicleLive Facebook page to express their grief following his death.
Sarah Hall said: “RIP Ashley Cochrane.
“Such a lovely lad, you always had a smile on your face when I used to see you.”