A CANONBIE man is the latest person to appear in a court charged with 'assisting an offender' as part of the Cumbria Police murder investigation into the death of Carlisle man Ryan Kirkpatrick.

Mr Kirkpatrick died on September 18 last year following an incident in Carlyle’s Court in the city centre.

Two men, Kane Hull, 29, and Liam Porter, 32, both from Carlisle, deny murder.

Ross Henry Neville, 31, appeared before the city’s Rickergate court this morning to face three charges.

They are:

  • Assisting an offender: that between September 18 and 20 last year, he did an act – namely, removing Kane Hull and Liam Porter from Carlisle and providing them with accommodation overnight on September 18, with intent to impede their apprehension or prosecution.
  • Assisting an offender: that on September 19, last year, at Kingmoor, he did an act, namely driving Kane Hull to collect another vehicle (a green Audi) to further evade police, with intent to impede the apprehension of a person who had committed the offence of murder.
  • Assisting an offender: that on September 19 last year, at Canonbie, he did an act, namely booking and paying for accommodation for Kane Hull and Liam Porter for September 19 onwards at the River View Holiday Park, Newcastleton, with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person who had committed murder.

The defendant spoke in court only to confirm his personal details.

Prosecutor Pam Ward told the court that the charge is one that can only be dealt with by a crown court and so the case should be sent there for a hearing which will link the case to those of two co-defendants who have also been charged assisting an offender.

Magistrates said the defendant will appear before the crown court with his co-defendants on July 11. In the meantime, he was granted unconditional bail. The defendant was represented by defence lawyer Heena Kauser.