FIVE men have appeared in court charged with conspiracy to murder.
The gang appeared before Mr Justice Andrew Smith at Newcastle Crown Court.
Stanley Anderson, 42, William Anderson, 54, William Thomas Anderson Junior, 28, Thomas Anderson, 46, Arthur Pattinson, 42, are charged with conspiring to murder Stanley Creswell between August 9 and August 23, this year.
Stanley Anderson, of North View, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, William Thomas Anderson, of no fixed address, Thomas Craig Anderson, of Borrowdale Street, Hetton-le-Hole, County Dur-ham, William Anderson, of High Street, Houghton-le-Spring, and Arthur Martin Pattinson, of Striding Edge, Washington, Wearside, will return to court on January 13 for a plea and directions hearing.
William Thomas Anderson was remanded in custody to await trial for five counts of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Chris Knox, prosecuting, said the firearms charges against Mr Anderson should be linked to the conspiracy charges.
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