Accused refuses to leave cell for hearing

A MAN facing trial over the death of an Anglesey man shot with a crossbow refused to come out of his cell at a hearing on Friday.

Martin Roberts, 34, who is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the death of retired photography lecturer Gerald Corrigan – was due to appear before judge Mrs Justice Jefford.

She was on video link from Cardiff crown court, and was arranging the date for the murder trial of Terence Michael Whall, of Garddefa, Bryngwran, Anglesey.

He appeared at Mold Crown Court yesterday to deny the murder charge, and to deny perverting the course of justice, which he is charged with alongside Roberts, and 41-year-old Darren Jones and Martin Roberts, 34, and Gavin Jones, 36.

They face allegations that they conspired to set fire to a vehicle that had been found burned out.

The trial was provisionally due to start on January 14 but the trial judge Mrs Justice Jefford – appearing via a live television link from Cardiff Crown Court – agreed that the trial should start on January 21 at Mold.

A jury panel would be asked to attend on the first day, a jury would be sworn and the prosecution would open their case on the second day and the judge was told hat an electronic presentation would take place on the third day. A site meeting would take place on the fourth day of the trial and witnesses would be called from the Monday the following week.

The trial is expected to last between four and five weeks.

Friday’s mention hearing proceeded in the absence of the defendant Roberts after the court was told he had refused to come up from the cell.