A father and son are facing trial over serious alleged violence on the same man in incidents dating back more than two years.

But it will be more than a year before John and Shane McKie will stand trial due to the lengthy backlog in cases going through the court system.

The pair appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday (Tue Sep 10) for a plea hearing in their case, stemming from two outbreaks of violence, in the Chester-le-Street area, on June 4, 2022.

Defence counsel for the defendants said the charges could be put to their clients.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

John McKie, 52, pleaded not guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause the victim grievous bodily, having inflicted what is alleged to have been serious injuries head injuries in an alleged attack with a small hammer.

Shane McKie, 22, denied a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, relating to an alleged baseball bat attack which was said to have left the same victim with a lump to the head.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

Following the tendering of their pleas, a timetable was set for their trial, with the prosecution to serve its case by October 22 and signed defence statements to be submitted to the court by November 19.

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The earliest availability at the court for a trial estimated to last up to five days was fixed with a starting date of September 29, 2025.

Judge Richard Bennett apologised to the defendants for the long wait for trial but said it was the result of the growing backlog in cases, besetting all courts at the moment.

He bailed both John McKie, of Wagtail Terrace, Craghead, near Stanley, and Shane McKie, of Cleveland Avenue, Chester-le-Street, to attend a further case management hearing at the court on September 8 next year, followed by the trial, itself, starting three weeks later.