Two in court charged with murder of 12 year-old boy
Bobby Bloomfield was hit by a car in Pilgrims Hatch
A man and a teenage boy are facing a trial, accused of the murder of a 12 year-old boy, who was struck by a car in Essex.
William Lunnon, 43, and a 15 year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons appeared in the dock at Chelmsford Crown Court, charged with the murder of Bobby Bloomfield.
Neither defendant was asked to enter a plea, and both were remanded until a plea hearing at Basildon Crown Court in the week of August 17.
Judge Samantha Cohen, who appeared at the hearing remotely by video-link from Basildon Crown Court, said a provisional trial date of November 9 had been identified.
Essex Police previously said that officers were called to Ashwells Road in Pilgrims Hatch at 5.40pm on Sunday to reports of a vehicle colliding with a child.
The force said that Bobby had sustained serious injuries and despite the best efforts of those involved in his care, he later died in hospital.
Prosecutors told an earlier hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court that the deceased and his friends had been on private property when Lunnon approached them and asked them to leave.
It is alleged that the boys ran off but were subsequently chased by the two defendants in a car, which was being driven by the teenager.
Lunnon, of Ashwells Road in Pilgrims Hatch, was remanded in custody and the youth defendant was remanded to secure accommodation.
No applications for bail were made at Friday’s hearing in the crown court.
In a statement released through Essex Police earlier this week, Bobby’s family said: “Losing a child is every parent’s nightmare.
“We are living that nightmare and no words can ever explain how we are feeling.
“Bobby brought light and life into all our lives and we have lost that forever.”