Three charged in Coventry man's murder appear in court

Three individuals charged with the murder of a 37-year-old Coventry man appeared in court today, where they were remanded in custody pending further proceedings.

Tammy Sturdy, 45, Camron Sturdy, 21, and Shane Turkington, 37, all from Coventry, faced Warwick Crown Court on Friday, March 20, for a preliminary hearing related to the death of Thomas Niven. The defendants, who did not enter pleas, were told by Judge Kristina Montgomery KC that they would next appear on May 8 for a plea and trial preparation hearing. "At that hearing, you will be expected to answer the charge against you," the judge told them. "Between now and then, your lawyers will speak with you and take your instructions. When we see each other again, we will make preparations for you to have a trial if that is what is necessary in your case."

Mr. Niven's body was discovered on March 13 by a passerby inside a wheelie bin at Cashs Park, off Daimler Road in Coventry. A postmortem examination confirmed the death as suspicious, prompting West Midlands Police to launch a major investigation. Officers arrested the three suspects two days later in Blackpool, initially on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender....