Trial date set next year for pair charged with South Shields murder conspiracy

But Newcastle Crown Court was told the case against a third man arrested and previously charged with the same offence, 22-year-old Jak Hughes, from South Shields, has been discontinued by the Crown.

That meant that only 40-year-old Kevin Chapman, of Hawthorn Avenue, and Aaron Hughes, 28, of Richardson Avenue, both South Shields, appeared before the court, both by video link from Durham Prison, where they are on remand.

They both denied the conspiracy to murder charge, and Mr Giles also denied possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, namely a shotgun.

The charges arise from the report of a firearm being discharged at an address in Brownlow Road, South Shields, shortly after 9pm on Wednesday September 21.

Read more: Five arrested after firearm incident at South Shields property

Police attended and confirmed no-one was injured, but amid inquiries arrested five people, three of whom have so far been charged.

Jamie Hill KC, prosecuting, told the court that two to three further defendants may yet be charged, but he confirmed the discontinuance of the case against Mr Hughes.

Judge Paul Sloan, the Recorder of Newcastle, set a trial date starting at the court on February 28, with a “window” of up to three weeks.

But he said the Crown would need to, “get their skates on”, if further defendants are charged in the case, as he is anxious that the trial date remains in place.

He adjourned the hearing and remanded both defendants to remain in custody and to next appear, again via video link, for a pre-trial hearing in the case on December 19.

Read next:

Man charged after firearm was discharged in South Shields

Murder plot accused Aaron Giles in court over South Shields shotgun incident

South Shields shotgun incident: Third man charged

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