A murder-accused man from Solihull has today appeared before a judge, with a trial date set for later this year.
Billy Allison, 36, was charged with murder and Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with an incident at a cocktail bar in Lichfield on Sunday, May 24.
Staffordshire Police said officers were called to the Ricco and Loren venue on Market Street at 11.25pm following reports two men had been punched.
Matt O'Gara sadly died two days later in hospital. A second man, Adam Cooper, was injured and has since been discharged from hospital.
Court Appearance
Wearing a blue long-sleeved top, Allison, of Cropthorne Road in Shirley, Solihull, appeared before Judge Avik Mukherjee for an eight-minute hearing at Stafford Crown Court today, Thursday, May 28, the Press Association reports.
Allison spoke only to confirm his name when asked by the court clerk.
The court heard a date for trial - which is expected to last two weeks - was set from Monday, October 26.
The judge told the defendant, who stood with his hands clasped in front of him, he would next appear in court in September for a plea and trial preparation hearing and would be remanded into custody.
"Billy Allison, will you stand please," the judge said. "Your next hearing is the first of September and you will be produced to court for that hearing."
Of his trial, the judge said: "You have an obligation to come. You are expected to be here every day for your trial."
Allison nodded and was taken back down to the cells by a custody officer following the hearing.
