Eight of the most high profile trials which are due to be heard by Liverpool courts in 2024

While we are only two days into 2024, court cases have already been scheduled for well into this year. Murder trials are due to take place in connection with the deaths of Chintzia McIntyre and Matthew Horton over the next few months. Nine suspects are also set to appear in court in connection with disorder at the Suites Hotel In in Kirkby.

Here are eight trials due to take place at Liverpool Crown Court during 2024: Nicola Elliott, Daniel Fulham, Liam Jones, Jennifer Knox, Paul Lafferty, Brian McPadden, Thomas Mills, Cheryl Nicholls and Jonjo O'Donoghue

Six men and three women are due to stand trial in connection with violent scenes outside the Suites Hotel in Kirkby[2]. The widespread disorder followed a protest sparked by rumours of alleged incidents involving asylum seekers housed at the site, which were widely circulated on social media.

A line of police officers deployed to keep the peace were forced back when members of the roughly 100-strong crowd threw glass bottles, which resulted in a riot van being left unguarded and subsequently set on fire and burnt out. Nicola Elliot, 52, Daniel Fulham, 38, Liam Jones, 25, Jennifer Knox, 41, Paul Lafferty, 42, Brian McPadden, 60, Thomas Mills, 47, Cheryl Nicholls, 44, and Jonjo O'Donoghue, 21, have all been charged with violent disorder over the incident. They are due to stand trial over the course of four weeks at Liverpool Crown Court from January 9 onwards.

Seatruck Ferries Limited

A ferry company has denied health and safety offences after a man was struck by a lorry and killed. A 30-year-old man died during the incident on Brocklebank Dock in Bootle[3] on May 15 2019. Reports at the time stated that he was a crew member of the Seatruck Progress cargo ship, with the incident occurring during "discharge operations".

Seatruck Ferries Limited has been charged with two counts of failing to ensure the health and safety of workers by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency following an investigation. The firm, which operates a service to Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to these charges and is due to face a three-week trial beginning on January 10.

17-year-old boy

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead outside her home. Chintzia McIntyre died in August last year after what was described as a "serious assault".

She was pronounced dead at the scene after police and paramedics, as well as an air ambulance, were called to Phoenix Place in Chapelford, Warrington[4], shortly after 9.30am on Tuesday, August 29. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is set to appear before Liverpool Crown Court[5] on January 29. His trial is expected to last five days.

Liam Thomas

A murder suspect is due to stand trial after a man with "the biggest of hearts" was stabbed to death. Matthew Horton died after police were called to a "disturbance" at a block of flats on Sefton[6] View in Litherland[7] shortly after 11.30pm on September 5 last year. Emergency services attended and attempted CPR, but the 32-year-old - who was nicknamed "Babs" - was pronounced dead at the scene.

Liam Thomas, of Woodend Avenue in Crosby[8], has been charged with his murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place. The 25-year-old is scheduled to go on trial on February 26 over the course of two weeks. Andrew Sherry

A former karate champion accused of historic child sex offences is expected to stand trial in March.

Andrew Sherry has been charged with gross indecency with a child and inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency against a boy in the 1980s. The 80-year-old also faces a count of sexual assault on a man in 2012. These offences are alleged to have occurred at his then home in West Derby[9] and a karate club.

Sherry, of Mann Island in Liverpool city centre[10], is expected to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on March 4. Sandra Hannah

A woman who went viral after losing her pet parrot is one of five defendants due to stand trial charged with drug offences. Sandra Hannah, of Cumberland Gate in Netherton[11], became a social media hit in 2020 after she recorded herself crying and repeatedly calling out in the street for her African Grey parrot Chanel.

She has been charged with the importation of cannabis and possession of criminal property. It comes after a joint operation between Merseyside Police[12] and the National Crime Agency, in which officers found 237.6kg of cannabis resin - worth an estimated GBP792,000 - which is believed to have been imported from Spain. Sandra Hannah, Ian Hannah, Steven Garbutt, Shahbaaz Shahid and Aftkhar Shah are due to go on trial on March 4 this year.

Brian Kubwalo

A doctor is set to stand trial accused of sexual assault. Dr Brian Kubwalo has been charged with sexually assaulting three women in the Wirral[13] area between 2019 and 2021. The 55-year-old has pleaded not guilty to these counts.

He is now due to go on trial at Liverpool Crown Court over the course of seven days, beginning on April 2. The obstetrician, of Llandudno Junction in North Wales, is known to have worked at Arrowe Park Hospital and previously practiced in the Manchester area. David Dunbavin

A teenager has been charged with a number of offences after a PCSO was run down with a scrambler bike.

The officer suffered face, leg and back injuries after being struck when the bike was ridden at officers on Alderfield Drive in Speke[14] in July last year. He was later released from hospital. David Dunbavin, of Alwain Green in Speke, is accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, using a motor vehicle without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving a vehicle involved in a road accident and failing to report the accident.

The 19-year-old is expected to face a jury at Liverpool Crown Court on April 29.

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here[15]

References

1. ^ These are the faces of 505 Merseyside criminals who were jailed during 2023 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ Kirkby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Bootle (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Warrington (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Liverpool Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ Sefton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ Litherland (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ Crosby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
9. ^ West Derby (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
10. ^ Liverpool city centre (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
11. ^ Netherton (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^ Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
13. ^ Wirral (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
14. ^ Speke (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
15. ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)