Trio deny charges over fatal shooting

Three people have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a fatal shooting at a traveller site.

Shane Porter, 35, of Calcutt Park near Cricklade in Wiltshire, his father Eddie Porter, 74, and Tammy Brown, 42, both of Luton in Bedfordshire, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday charged in connection with the murder of Jimmy Ward at the Calcutt traveller site on 2 August.

Shane Porter denied charges of murder and possessing a shotgun without a certificate. Eddie Porter and Brown both denied charges of assisting an offender and possessing a shotgun without a certificate.

The defendants, who all appeared via video link, will stand trial in February 2027.

Wiltshire Police said officers were called to the Calcutt traveller site by South Western Ambulance Service at about 08:15 BST on 2 August.

Ward, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is alleged that Shane Porter shot and killed Ward, with Eddie Porter and Brown then driving to Swindon from their home town of Luton.

They are accused of taking possession of the shotgun "with intent to impede the apprehension of Shane Porter".

The court previously heard a firearm, believed to have been used in the fatal incident, had been recovered in Hungerford in Berkshire.

The judge told the court the trial was expected to last up to three weeks and would likely be before Judge Peter Blair, the Recorder of Bristol.

Shane Porter, Eddie Porter and Brown will next appear before Bristol Crown Court for a further case management hearing on 22 January.

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