Two Carlisle men have appeared in court accused of roles in an armed robbery said to have involved a firearm.
Police made a public appeal for information after an incident at an address in the Stanwix area of the city on the early morning of Tuesday, June 10.
Two men were charged following the incident.
Appearing remotely at Carlisle Crown Court today via separate video links from custody, were 58-year-old Simon Cowen and Shaidul Islam, 35.
During a short hearing in front of Judge Michael Fanning, Cowen and Islam both pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbery.
This alleges that on June 10 they robbed a woman of jewellery, watches and two mobile phones.
Islam faces possession of a firearm at a time when an offence — a robbery — is said to have been committed. He denied the charge.
The case has been listed for trial in front of a crown court jury. This hearing is due to start on April 20 next year and, it is estimated, will last up to five days.
In the meantime, both Cowen, of Lightfoot Drive, Carlisle, and Islam, of Carleton Road, also Carlisle, have been remanded in custody. A bail application made by a lawyer on Cowen’s behalf was refused by Judge Fanning.
