A MOTHER and daughter arrested by police investigating the murder of David 'Noddy' Rice have appeared at crown court.

Shareena McAuley, 26, and Marilyn McAuley, 55, yesterday denied a joint charge of conspiring with Allan Foster to conceal the proceeds of criminal property.

Mr Foster has been named by police as the gunman who killed Mr Rice as he sat in his car at Marsden Lea in South Shields, last May.

It is claimed he fled the country after killing Mr Rice and police are still trying to trace him.

Marilyn McAuley and her daughter Shareena, believed to be Mr Foster's ex-partner, both deny the charge against them and will be tried by a jury on April 7 next year.

Both women were granted conditional bail in the meantime.