A trial date has been set in the cases of three people accused of murder arising from an alleged hit-and-run outside a pub at the weekend.

Police were called to the incident in the car park of The Bay Horse Inn, in Cramlington, Northumberland, at about 10pm on Saturday (April 1).

It followed reports of two men having been struck by a van which was reported to have then been driven from the scene.

Police said it was understood there had been an earlier disturbance in the pub.

Read more: Three arrested in murder inquiry after man dies outside North East pub

Toby Kelly, 37, of Wansbeck Avenue, Blyth, David Fairclough, 32, of Emerson Road, Newbiggin-by-Sea and 27-year-old Shannon Wooden, also from Blyth, were subsequently arrested and charged with Sheldon Flanighan’s murder, plus the attempted murder of the second injured man.

All three appeared via video link from prison at today’s first hearing in the case at Newcastle Crown Court.

The two male accused appeared from Durham Prison and Ms Wooden was on screen from Low Newton Women’s Prison, also in Durham.

Although no pleas were taken at today’s hearing, Judge Paul Sloan, the Recorder of Newcastle, set a trial start date of Tuesday October 3, at the court, with an agreed three-week time-estimate.

Read more: Man killed outside Cramlington pub named as three charged with murder

A plea hearing will take place on Tuesday May 2, when all three defendants will once again appear via prison to court video link.

Judge Sloan asked prosecuting counsel, David Lamb KC, that all relevant cctv footage in the case should be uploaded to the court at least three working days before the plea hearing.

No bail applications were made by defence counsel on behalf of any of the defendants, but they each reserved the right to do so in future.

Judge Sloan adjourned proceedings to the plea hearing on May 2 and remanded the three defendants to remain in custody.

Since Saturday night’s tragic events, the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has paid what it described as a “heartfelt tribute” to Mr Flanighan on social media.

He was said to have been based at Ashington and Blucher stations during his 29-year-long career.

In a post, NEAS stated: “This news has come as a great shock to us all, and our thoughts are with Sheldon’s family, friends, colleagues at this incredibly sad time.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the professionalism and the compassionate care that the attending crews showed at this incident.

“This type of incident is never easy to deal with, but even more so when it involves a colleague.”

Senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Chief Inspector, Dave Johnson, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the families of everyone affected by this tragic incident and we ask that their privacy is respected while they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

Read next:

* Three arrested on suspicion of murder after death of man hit by van

* Tributes paid to ambulance worker killed outside Cramlington pub

* Cramlington 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft

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“We have now charged three people with murder and attempted murder and are working hard to establish exactly what happened in the moments before and after this incident.

“While our inquiries continue, we’d ask that people refrain from any type of speculation or commentary on social media and urge anyone who has information but hasn’t yet come forward to do so.” 

Anyone with information should call 101 or use the Tell Us Something page online, quoting log NP-20230401-1194.