Five defendants face trial after denying murder of 14-year-old boy

Two men and three teenagers have denied murdering a 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Birmingham

Michael Shields, 35, and George Khan 38, both pleaded not guilty to killing Dea-John Reid who died in the Kingstanding area of the city on May 31 this year.

Shields and Khan appeared in the dock at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, alongside a 14-year-old boy who also denied murder.

Because of Covid regulations only three defendants can appear in the dock, meaning two other youths, aged 14 and 16, denied murder at a later hearing in the same courtroom.

Shields, of Alvis Walk, Castle Bromwich, and Khan, of Newstead Road, Birmingham, and the three teenagers are due to stand trial accused of the youngster’s murder on February 22 next year.

None of the juveniles can be identified because of their age.

A further hearing will be held on November 1 and all five defendants were remanded in custody by Judge Paul Farrer QC.

Adjourning the second of the two hearings, the judge told two of the boys, who appeared in the dock in causal dress: “Because of the present pandemic this court can only have a maximum of three people in the dock.

“That is why you have come up separately and after the other three defendants.”

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