FOUR men accused of being involved in a pub shooting in which a pensioner died may be tried by a jury in the new year.

Fred Fowler, 72, died and Michael Nixon, 19, was injured when two gunmen burst into the Tap and Barrel pub, in Hendon, Sunderland, on July 18.

Lee Hay, 19, of Patterdale Street, Hartlepool, William Tobin, 46, of Kilwick Street, Hartlepool, Robert Fox, 36, of Rotherham Road, Sunderland, and Robert Chapman, 36, of no fixed address, all face charges in relation to the incident.

Only Hay and Tobin appeared during a hearing of the case at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, and no pleas have been taken from any of the accused.

A provisional date of January 17 was set for the trial, and a further hearing will be held on December 3, when all four are expected to attend.

They were remanded in custody