A teenage boy has made his first appearance in court charged with the murder of a North East grandfather.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court this morning (August 12) after Alan Garbutt was found dead in a Guisborough flat in the early hours of Monday morning.
The 62-year-old, from East Cleveland, died following an alleged incident at Helmsley House, Guisborough.
During the short hearing, the teenager was remanded in custody and told he will appear at Teesside Crown Court on Monday.
Read more: Block of flats cordoned off as police investigate alleged murder of man
Police sealed off the area around the block of flats for two days while they carried out their investigations.
Fire crews and ambulance crews attended the block of flats at Helmsley House in Guisborough, from around 2.20am, where the body Mr Garbutt was discovered.
Alan’s family paid tribute to him, saying: “Our beloved dad, grandad and brother will be missed dearly but will never be forgotten.”
On Monday, one woman, whose home overlooks the block of flats, said: “The police have been there since the early hours – I haven’t slept for two days now.
“We don’t really know what has happened but people are saying that he was shot or stabbed – we just want to know what has happened for our own safety.”
Detectives would appeal to anyone who may have information or anyone who may have seen or heard anything in this area to contact them as a matter of urgency on 101, quoting incident number 139388.
A 43-year-old man and a 28-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder have been released with no further action.
Another 28-year-old man and a 47-year-old man have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
A 45-year-old man and two women aged 23 and 68 arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.
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