A YOUNG man has appeared before a Carlisle court accused of “assisting” an alleged murderer by disposing of a car.

Marcus Goodfellow, 20, was not asked to enter a plea when he appeared at the city’s Rickergate court, where the charge was put to him, alleging  he had removed a car that belonged to Annan man Paul Taylor (pictured).News and Star:

The charge alleges that he: “Between October 17 and October 20 2023, at the county of Cumbria, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, did an act, namely assisting in the disposal of a motor vehicle… belonging to Paul Taylor and arranged transport away from incriminating evidence, with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person who had committed the offence of murder, knowing or believing the said person to be guilty of the offence or some other offence.”

The defendant, represented by defence lawyer Jonathan Cousins, spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Prosecutor George Shelley told the court that the case had to be sent to the city’s crown court for legal reasons.

After a discussion of the case with Mr Shelley and Mr Cousins, District Judge John Temperley said Goodfellow, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, must appear before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court on May 3.

He released the defendant on conditional bail until that date. 

Those conditions include a stipulation that Goodfellow must have no contact with three named individuals, including 20-year-old Jack Crawley, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle.

* Crawley denies murdering Mr Taylor and is due to face a Carlisle Crown Court trial, which is scheduled to start on October 2.