Off-duty PC Neil Doyle Murder Update
Photos by Dave
Evens - Bond Media Agency.
IT was a
shocking and tragic end to a night out, in the early hours of 19
December 2014, when off-duty PC Neil Doyle and 2 of his colleagues
where assault.
The alleged assault
is said to have lead to the death of PC Neil Doyle. On Tuesday, 23
December 2014, 2 males who have been charged with the murder of
off-duty PC Neil Doyle and 2 counts of Section 18 assault appeared,
in the dock, before Liverpool Magistrates Court, at the Liverpool
Crown Court, Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts building. The court's
Clerk read out the charges, in what was a packed out courtroom. Both
Christopher Spendlove, 30 and Andrew Taylor, 28, now stand accused
of the murder of Neil Doyle, and also charges of unlawfully and
maliciously wounding Michael Steventon and Robert Marshall during
the same incident. The trial is expected to last 3 to 4 weeks and it
will likely to be in the early summer of 2015. The trial is also
expected to feature a 3rd defendant, who Merseyside Police are
currently trying to trace. Both Christopher and Andrew are said to
be close friends, with both having played together under
scholarships in America. They are also reported to be well known
around Merseyside's Non-League Football circuit, with Andrew Taylor,
having played at the highest level of the semi professional game
with Conference Premier side Forest Green Rovers. Christopher
Spendlove, was up to 22 December 2014, listed as an assistant coach,
with a 3rd tier, US professional football club, Oklahoma Energy FC.
That club told the media that they had dismissed Spendlove. As a kid
it is also reported that he had played for both Everton and Preston
North End. At the Court, both spoke spoke to confirm their
identities. Richard Pratt, QC, representing Taylor, said that his
client wanted it to be made clear that it was not a targeted attack
and Taylor:- "Did not land any blows, let alone the fatal
blow." Neither man have sought a bail application and they
were remanded in custody by Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, to await a
preliminary hearing on 6 January 2014. The judge added that if the 3
defendant was to be arrested over the holiday period, an appropriate
Court would then be held to deal with the case.
PC Neil Doyle's wife, Sarah, issued the following statement:-
"Neil was very well loved by all of his family, friends and
colleagues and it is a great loss to us all. We are finding it
extremely difficult to come to terms with what has happened and need
time to be left to grieve."
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