Bilston Murder Suspect, 76, Refuses Court Appearance as Not Guilty Pleas Entered on His Behalf
A 76-year-old murder suspect from Bilston has refused to attend court, leading a judge to enter not guilty pleas on his behalf during a hearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court. David Harrison is accused of the fatal shooting of taxi driver Harun Khan on March 3, 2008, outside Khan's home in Tudor Street, Tipton.
Details of the Alleged Crime and Additional Charges
Harun Khan, a 39-year-old father of four, was shot at approximately 9:25 p.m. and was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital. In addition to the murder charge, Harrison faces charges related to a separate incident on December 14, 2007, where a 27-year-old man was shot and wounded in Farthings Lane, Dudley. He is also charged with two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Court Proceedings and Judge's Ruling
During a brief 15-minute hearing on Friday, April 10, Judge Michael Chambers KC noted that Harrison had not attended voluntarily, including a previous hearing date on March 6. The suspect, who is currently held at HMP Frankland in County Durham, opted not to appear even via video link. Consequently, the judge ordered that not guilty pleas be formally entered for all four charges.
Judge Chambers stated, “The defendant has clearly not attended voluntarily on March 6th and, I am satisfied, not attended voluntarily today.” He directed the court office to send Harrison a letter outlining his rights, including the right to give evidence and the possibility that the trial could proceed in his absence.
Upcoming Legal Steps
A pre-trial review has been scheduled for June 1, with the judge emphasizing that Harrison must attend court in person for this session. The trial itself is set to take place before a High Court Judge in November, where the case will be heard in full.
This development highlights the ongoing legal process in a case that has spanned over a decade, with the court taking steps to ensure proceedings move forward despite the defendant's refusal to participate.
