TWO men who each stand accused of raping a schoolgirl at an address in Carlisle are to stand trial next year.
Arran William Toal, 36, and 34-year-old James Andrew Nelson both appeared at the city’s crown court this morning (MON).
During a 25-minute hearing held in front of Judge Nicholas Barker, Toal and Nelson each faced one charge.
Toal denied the alleged rape of a girl aged under 16.
Nelson pleaded not guilty to the alleged rape of a different girl, also aged under 16.
Both charges arise out of incidents which are alleged to have occurred at an address in Carlisle on January 20 of 2018. The identity of both females is protected by law.
A timetable for the progression of the case was outlined by prosecuting barrister Wayne Jackson.
A trial, which will take place in front of a jury, was listed and is due to start at the crown court on April 27. It is estimated the hearing will last around a week.
In the meantime Toal, of Hillary Grove, Carlisle, and Nelson, of Crossgates Road, Hallbankgate, near Brampton, were granted bail by Judge Barker.
The conditions of their bail state that they must not have contact with any prosecution witnesses in the case, nor must they have any unsupervised contact with any child aged under 16.
Both Toal and Nelson were told they must co-operate with their solicitors in the preparation of respective statements setting out both their defence to the allegation they each face, and the issues they take with the prosecution case.
