Manslaughter accused Reece Galbraith has denied causing the death of a child and an adult in an explosion.
Galbraith is accused of killing seven-year-old Archie York and Jason Laws, 35. The allegations arise out of an explosion which happened at Violet Close, in Benwell, on October 16.
During an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of manslaughter. He also denied producing cannabis on the same date as the explosion and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Archie York, aged seven, who died following an explosion in Benwell
(Image: Northumbria Police)
Galbraith, who appeared in court on a video-link from prison, was told he will stand trial on May 12, with the case expected to take around seven days. The 33-year-old, of Rectory Road, in Gateshead, was further remanded in custody and Judge Paul Sloan told him: “I’m adjourning your case to trial, which is listed as a fixture on the 12th of May. There will be two further pre-trial hearings before then, both of which you will attend via the court prison video-link as you have today.
“You will be required to provide a defence statement setting out, in detail, your defence to each and every one of these allegations.
“If, and I stress the word if, you have committed any offence or offences arising out of these allegations, the sooner you tell the court, the better for you, the more credit you will receive, the less severe the punishment will be. The longer you leave it, if you have committed any offence, the worse it will be for you, the more severe the punishment will be.”