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Four men and a teenage boy are set to go on trial in 2025 charged over the tragic deaths of Teessiders. All three cases - two alleged murders and one alleged manslaughter - are due to be
heard at Teesside Crown Court in the coming months. The men and boy were arrested and charged by Cleveland Police following the three separate incidents - two in Stockton and one in Eston.
As with any case, the exact dates for the start of the legal proceedings could change. These are the details we know so far about the three cases listed for trial. ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER ON
STOCKTON HIGH STREET Rhyan Cooper is set to go on trial in March, accused of the manslaughter of Thomas Tierney. Police were called to Stockton High Street shortly after midnight on
Saturday, September 7, 2023. It followed reports a man had suffered a serious head injury near the Ship Inn Yard alley. Mr Tierney was rushed to the University Hospital of North Tees, in
Stockton. However, after days of fighting for his life, the 54-year-old from Stockton, described by his family as "gentle, loving and kind", tragically died from his injuries.
Cooper, 29, of Havilland Road in Thornaby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court in December 2023 and pleaded not guilty to manslaughter. The case is set to go to trial at the same court on
Monday, March 24, 2025. Cooper was granted conditional bail. ALLEGED MURDER ON ESTON ROAD Andrew Clark will face trial in May after pleading not guilty to the murder of John
'Bamber' Donaldson. Clark, of Harlech Close in Eston, appeared at Teesside Crown Court in November and denied murder, possession of a knife and criminal damage. Mr Donaldson, 34,
was allegedly stabbed on November 21, on Birchington Avenue, near Lealholm Walk, in the Whale Hill area of Eston. He was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by
ambulance and sadly died a short time later. Mr Donaldson 's family previously paid tribute to the Teessider honouring him as a "very much-loved son, brother, uncle, grandson and
nephew". Clark, 38, was remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday, May 12. TRIO SET TO BE TRIED FOR ALLEGED MURDER OF LEWIS BELL Two men and a teenage boy have denied murdering
Lewis Bell. Liam Matthews, 26, Sean McLeod, 23, and a teenager entered not guilty pleas at Teesside Crown Court in October. Mr Bell, 26, from Stockton, died at the scene on Hills Drive in
Stockton after an alleged incident at around 12am on Thursday, September 19. Mr Bell's family described him as a "brilliant dad" to his little boy. At his plea hearing,
Matthews, of Quenby Road in Billingham, appeared in court via videolink from Durham prison. McLeod, of no fixed address, appeared via video link from HMP Hull and the 17-year-old boy, who
cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared on video link from a young offenders' institution. Judge Francis Laird told the three accused that their trial is scheduled to take place on
Monday, March 3. They were remanded in custody. FOR CRIME NEWS IN YOUR AREA DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX EVERY DAY, GO HERE TO SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER JOIN TEESSIDE LIVE'S WHATSAPP
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