Two men in court charged with murdering father in Chelmsford

Two men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a father who was assaulted in a street.

Kieran Shepherd, 30, died in Meadgate Avenue in Chelmsford, Essex , on October 15.

Prosecutors told Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court that a member of the public found Mr Shepherd unresponsive.

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 , both appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The two men, both wearing grey prison-issue tracksuits, spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses.

They were not asked for a plea to the charge of murder.

District judge Christopher Williams remanded both of them into custody to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

A third defendant, Harrison Carpenter, appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday accused of murdering Mr Shepherd.

The 19-year-old, of Ben Wilson Link, Springfield , was due to appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing.

The cases of all three men were instead subsequently listed for a preliminary hearing before Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday, October 22.

In a statement 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.”

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