Four deny murder of Fairfield sub-postmaster's son

Jul 17 2009 by Ben Hurst, Birmingham Mail

FOUR men today denied the murder of a sub-postmaster’s son who was gunned down during an armed raid.

Anselm Ribera, 34, Adrian Snape, 25, Christopher Morrissey, 32, and his 33-year-old brother, Declan Morrissey, will now face trial in October accused of killing Craig Hodson-Walker.

The defendants also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Hodson-Walker’s father during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.

Snape, of Camelot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Mr Hodson-Walker and his parents at their shop in Fairfield, Worcestershire, on January 9.

Christopher Morrissey, of Elmay Road, Sheldon, Birmingham; Declan Morrissey, of Shirley Park Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands; Ribera, of Topfield House, Druids Heath, Birmingham; all denied the same charge.

All four men also entered not guilty pleas to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, while Declan and Christopher Morrissey pleaded not guilty to a robbery which is alleged to have occurred on December 31 last year.

Mr Justice Roderick Evans remanded them all in custody and fixed the trial to begin on October 6.