A man has been charged with assisting an offender as detectives continue to investigate the alleged murder of Lewis Bell in Stockton. 

Macauley Wright, 26, has been remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning (December 4). 

It follows a reported incident on Hills Drive in Stockton, in the early hours of September 19, where "doting dad" Lewis Bell, 26, sadly died at the scene. 

Wright, of Humewood Grove in Stockton, is the fourth person to be charged in relation to the investigation into Lewis' death. 

In October, Liam Matthews, Sean McLeod and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied a charge of murder when they made a brief appearance at court.

Matthews, 25, of no fixed abode but formerly of Norton, near Stockton, 23-year-old McLeod, of no fixed abode but formerly Billingham, and the teenager spoke only to confirm their date of birth and to deny the charge of murder.

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The trial is listed to start on March 3, 2025, and is expected to last at least ten days.

Detectives are still keen to speak to any witnesses to the incident or anyone with information and are urging them to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 180509.

Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at https://orlo.uk/8yYkk or by phone on 0800 555 111.