A TRIAL date has been identified for the 19-year-old Carlisle man charged with the murder of missing Annan man Paul Taylor.

Appearing before Carlisle Crown Court via a video link from a prison in Manchester, Jack Crawley watched the 20-minute hearing as lawyers thrashed out a timetable for a trial. The teenager spoke only to confirm his person details.

He was not asked to enter any plea.

During the hearing, he was represented by Toby Hedworth KC while the prosecution was represented by barrister Daniel Bramhall. The defendant, whose address has previously been given as Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, was not asked to enter his plea.

Judge Nicholas Barker identified October 2 as a likely starting date for the trial, which at this stage is estimated to last for three weeks. It is likely that the trial will be heard in Carlisle.

Crawley's case will next be considered by the court during a hearing which is set to take place on March 12, when various legal issues will be considered. In the meantime, the defendant will remain remanded in custody.

Detectives brought the murder charge following a lengthy investigation which began after Mr Taylor went missing on October 17 last year. The charge alleges that the defendant murdered Mr Taylor “on or about” October 18 last year.

At the time of his disappearance, Mr Taylor was aged 56. After Crawley was charged last week, detectives issued a statement, confirming that they are still looking for Mr Taylor’s body.

Cumbria Police said that detectives are continuing their investigation and still like to hear from anyone who has information relating to this case, or the whereabouts of Mr Taylor’s body.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Pattinson said: "We are still appealing to the public for information that will lead us to finding Paul's body.

"We have a team of detectives continuing to work tirelessly and thoroughly to piece together the circumstances that led to Paul's disappearance and to locate his body, giving his family the answers they desperately deserve.

"Please, if you have any information which you have not yet come forward with, I urge you to do so. You can call 101 and speak to a member of the Operation Focus team, or, if you don't feel comfortable speaking with police, you can call Crimestoppers totally anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"Paul's family continue to be supported and updated throughout our investigation and will remain so throughout the judicial process."

Officers believe Paul travelled from his home address in Annan, to Carlisle shortly before midnight on Tuesday, October 17 2023 in his blue Vauxhall Corsa, registration PY18 DYO.