Duo who 'helped Raoul Moat' will face trial next year
Jul 23 2010 The Journal
TWO alleged accomplices of gunman Raoul Moat will face trial next year accused of conspiracy to murder – and more are likely to join them, a court heard yesterday.
Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, are accused of helping the ex-bouncer target police officers.
They appeared before Newcastle Crown Court via videolink from prison, and also face a charge of possessing a firearm with intent.
During a brief hearing the defendants heard that they will face trial next year before a High Court judge, with a provisional date of January 24.
A plea and case management hearing was fixed for the week beginning November 1.
Prosecutor Kingsley Hyland asked for a provisional four-week trial and added: “There is a real possibility of further defendants being charged.”
It is alleged that Ness was with Moat when he injured his ex-lover, Samantha Stobbart, in Birtley, Gateshead, and shot dead her boyfriend, Chris Brown.
Both defendants were allegedly present when PC David Rathband was blasted in the face and shoulder the next day.
The pair are accused of obtaining a sawn-off shotgun for Moat before he was released from prison, and providing supplies while he was on the run for a week.
Moat hid in Rothbury, Northumberland, for a week before he died after a stand-off with police by the River Coquet.
Ness, of Dudley, North Tyneside, and Awan, of Blyth, Northumberland, were arrested in the village four days before Britain’s most-wanted man was discovered.
No pleas were entered and the judge, Mr Justice Simon, remanded them both into custody until their next court appearance.
PC Rathband, who was left blind after Moat shot him, returned home to his family on Wednesday. He needed 17 days of treatment after he was shot in the shoulder and face from close range.
Page 2 - Second post-mortem on gunman Raoul Moat >>
