County Durham man appears in court accused of murder after 'stab attack'

Kenneth Fishwick appears at Teesside Crown Court charged with murdering Dean Fishwick, 51, in Peterlee on September 23. He was remanded in custody.

A County Durham man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 51-year-old in Peterlee.

Kenneth Fishwick is accused of murdering Dean Fishwick at a house on Thames Road shortly before midnight on Wednesday, September 23.

The 51-year-old was found with stab wounds and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Kenneth Fishwick appeared at Teesside Crown Court this morning charged with murder.

The 53-year-old was not asked to enter a plea during the brief hearing.

Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said: "I will adjourn your case for trial.

"To assist your legal team, I will set the trial for April next year."

Fishwick is due back in court on October 26, when he is expected to plead to the murder charge.

He was remanded in custody, with a provisional trial date set for April 12 next year.

A 73-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed, while a 77-year-old man arrested on the same suspicion has been released under investigation.

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Pictures taken on Thursday showed forensic experts in white suits working at the property and carrying brown evidence envelopes into the home.

Floral tributes were placed outside the property.

One tribute reads: “You will be sadly missed, love you. Fly high.”

Another reads: “You sleep tight me old pal. You will be sadly missed Dean, you will be forever in our thoughts.”