TWO men have been formally charged with the murder of teenager Michael Causer, who died after an alleged homophobic attack.
Gavin Alker, 19, of Fleetwood Walk, Runcorn, and James O’Connor, 19, of The Brow, Halton, denied murder for the first time at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday.
They had previously been charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Causer, 18, from Huyton.
Michael Binstead, 18, of Evelyn Avenue, Prescot, charged with perverting the course of justice, was granted conditional bail, as was O’Connor.
January 26 was set as the trial date by Judge Henry Globe.
Alker was remanded in custody via a video link from Altcourse prison. Binstead will be able to enter a plea at a hearing on Dec 5.
