TWO men charged with murder in connection with the death of a man in Colwyn Bay last November have appeared in court.
David Webster, 42, of Lacey Street, Widnes; and Thomas Whiteley, 33, of Clos Emlyn, Old Colwyn; have been remanded in custody and appeared via videolink at Mold Crown Court on Friday.
They are charged with murdering 65-year-old David Wilcox in Colwyn Bay in the early hours of November 20, 2023.
Lauren Harris, 29, of no fixed abode but of Colwyn Bay, was also charged with murder on November 24, 2023 in relation to Mr Wilcox’s death.
During the hearing, no formal pleas were entered, but Judge Rhys Rowlands, presiding over the matter, said he is under the impression that the charges are “likely to be denied” by the defendants.
Indeed, Duncan Bould, representing Webster, added: “It is going to be a trial, as far as Mr Webster is concerned.”
Prosecutor Andrew Thomas KC said that the difference in time between charges was due to Harris making “clear admissions”, albeit not to police.
A “more prolonged investigation” was said to have been carried out before Webster and Whiteley were also charged with murder.
This involved analysis of closed-circuit television, forensic examinations of the scene and of clothing, and more detailed information from Dr Brian Rodgers’ findings from Mr Wilcox’s post-mortem examination.
Webster and Whiteley, who are likely to be tried together with Harris, were charged following a further round of police interviews earlier this week.
Harris is due to enter her plea on March 1, followed by Webster and Whiteley on April 15.
Should they deny the charges, a provisional trial start date has been set for May 20.
A trial would likely last three to four weeks in this case, the court heard.
Mr Wilcox, who was born in Ebbw Vale, is survived by his mother, two sisters, four sons, nine grandchildren, and his extended family.
He was described by his family as “such a kind and wonderful person, who always cared for the people he loved”.
It was heard at the opening of the inquest into Mr Wilcox’s death that he died after suffering a stab wound.
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