Trial date for boys accused of murdering 13-year-old

Two boys accused of murdering 13-year-old Jahziah Coke have appeared in court ahead of a trial to be held next year.

The pair, who cannot be named because of their age, previously entered not guilty pleas at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Jahziah died in Oldbury, near Birmingham, on 29 August. A man in his 40s, who also cannot be named and who has denied assisting an offender, will stand trial alongside them.

All three will be tried at the crown court on 4 March, in a case lasting at least three weeks, in front of Mrs Justice Tipples.

Ground rules were set out ahead of the trial including that counsel will not wear formal robes, the defendants can sit in the well of the court and use their first names, and both would have intermediaries to explain anything they did not understand.

Judge Michael Chambers KC also said the number of people in the public gallery would also be limited to prevent "distraction" to them.

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