12/01/2004

Three in court charged with airport murder

Three men have appeared in court today charged with the murder of a 57-year-old man outside Liverpool airport last Tuesday.

At Liverpool Magistrate's Court today, Craig Abbott, 21, from Carley Walk, Speke, Neil Dolan, 20, from Yeardon Walk, Speke, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, also from the Speke area, were charged with murder and with conspiracy to steal.

Mr Abbott and his teenage co-defendant were also charged with driving without a licence or insurance.

A fourth man, 19-year-old Jamie English, from Camp Road, Woolton, Merseyside, was charged with conspiracy to steal a car from the Halewood area of Merseyside on January 6.

Michael Howard, a father-of-three from Preston in Lancashire, died after being trapped under the wheels of his Volvo car at the departures terminal of John Lennon Airport. Mr Howard and his wife had been due to go on holiday to Malaga.

He was unloading luggage from the rear of the car at around 5.30am on Tuesday, when a car thief allegedly jumped into the driver's seat. Mr Howard apparently ran to the front of the vehicle to stop it being driven away, but the thief allegedly ran him down. Mr Howard died at the scene.

The thief then allegedly abandoned the Volvo and escaped in a maroon coloured car driven by an accomplice.

During the short hearing, no pleas were entered and the accused spoke only to confirm their names, ages and addresses. All four were remanded to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on January 21.

(gmcg)

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