Three men are to stand trial in the summer of this year accused of murdering a beloved dad in the street in Chelmsford. The men, aged between 19 and 20, are alleged to have killed Kieran Shepherd in Meadgate Avenue in October 2024.
A member of the public found Mr Shepherd unresponsive on Monday October 21. Essex Police previously said firearms officers were deployed after receiving a call about the reported assault at about 12.30pm.
Joseph Dawe, 20, of Greenland Gardens, Great Baddow and Zack O’Keeffe, 19, of Stafford Green, Langdon Hills, Basildon, and Harrison Carpenter, 19, of Ben Wilson Link in Springfield, were all subsequently arrested and charged with Mr Shepherd’s murder.
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They all appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday (January 6) dressed in white, blue and grey T-shirts and showing very little emotion during the hearing. All three entered not guilty pleas to a single count of murder.
A trial date has been fixed for August 11 this year, and will last for a minimum of four weeks. Judge Christopher Morgan told the defendants: “All three of you will remain in custody, your trial will commence on August 11. If all three of you chose not to attend it will go ahead in your absence.”
Floral tributes left at the scene of a murder in Meadgate Avenue in Chelmsford, Essex on October 16, 2024
(Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)
In a statement previously released through police, Mr Shepherd’s family said: “Kieran was a kind and loving son, brother, and father, his loss has left a massive hole in the lives of his family and friends. Our lives will never be the same without him, he will be forever in our hearts.”