Man, 36, charged with murder after assault outside bar appears in court
Police were called to the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street following reports two men had been punched
A man accused of murder after another man died following an assault outside a bar has appeared in court.
Billy Allison, 36, appeared at Stafford Crown Court after being charged with murder and Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with an incident in Lichfield on May 24.
Staffordshire Police said officers were called to the Ricco and Loren bar on Market Street at 11.25pm following reports two men had been punched.
One of the men sustained serious injuries and died in hospital on Tuesday.
The force said the second victim in the assault was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
Wearing a blue long-sleeved top, Allison, of Solihull, appeared before Judge Avik Mukherjee for an eight-minute hearing on Thursday and spoke only to confirm his name when asked by the court clerk.
The court heard a date for trial, expected to last two weeks, was set for 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 and would be remanded into custody.
He said: “Billy Allison, will you stand please.
“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.