A man accused of murdering a pensioner who died following an incident in Barrow has appeared in court.
William Prince, 63, faces a charge alleging that he murdered Geoffrey Kershaw last month.
A Cumbria police spokesman said on Tuesday that 90-year-old Mr Kershaw, of Abbey Road in the town, had died in hospital on Friday, March 22. His death is said to have followed an incident at a residence on the same street five days earlier, on Sunday, March 17.
An inquest into Mr Kershaw’s death was opened at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court this morning, and suspended pending the outcome of a criminal investigation which has been launched by detectives.
Prince has been charged as part of that probe, and appeared remotely at Barrow Magistrates’ Court earlier today over a video link from custody.
No plea was entered to the charge that he faces which is indictable only, meaning it can only be dealt with by a judge at a crown court.
Prince’s case was sent to Preston Crown Court, where he is due to appear in front of a judge at a preliminary hearing on Monday, April 15.
In the meantime Prince — previously of Abbey Road in Barrow — has been remanded in custody.
