Key Highlights :
The small village of Wootton in Lincolnshire was rocked by tragedy last month when 44-year-old Ian Staves was found dead in his home. Police were called to the house in Cherry Lane on September 12th following reports of a concern for safety and upon arriving, they discovered that Mr Staves had suffered injuries which were later determined to be consistent with the involvement of others. A murder investigation was launched and six men were soon arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Staves.
The men, aged between 18 and 39, appeared before Hull Crown Court for the latest hearing of the case. They are Nicholas St Clair, Bobby Gibson, Aaron Windas, Celestino Furtado, Jamie Smith and Patrick Smith. Mr Furtado is also accused of possessing a sawn-off shotgun without a certificate, possessing ammunition and a handgun with a barrel less than 12 inches long, a prohibited weapon, on February 8th. The cases were adjourned until May 26th for a further hearing and a trial date has been set for September 4th, with a likely time estimate of four to six weeks. All of the men were remanded in custody until the next hearing.
The incident has been met with shock and sadness in the local community, with floral tributes left outside the house paying tribute to Mr Staves. One read: “God bless you, Ian. You did not deserve this.”
The tragic death of Ian Staves has left a community in mourning and the police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The six men accused of conspiracy to murder will appear in court again in May and the trial is set to begin in September. In the meantime, the local community will be hoping for justice for Ian Staves and that those responsible for his death are brought to justice.