Shap man pleads not guilty to attempted murder charge (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Shap man pleads not guilty to attempted murder charge
4:28pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News
A SHAP man accused of attempted murder has admitted a less serious charge of trying to inflict grievous bodily harm on his victim.
John Lowis, 44, made an eight-minute appearance before the Honorary Recorder of Carlisle, Judge Paul Batty QC, at the city’s Crown Court on Monday.
He was charged with trying to murder 52-year-old Russell Mitchell, who suffered head and facial injuries – apparently from a hammer – in an incident at Jackson Lane, Shap, just before midnight on Sunday, August 12.
Lowis, of Mill Crest, Main Street, Shap, pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder.
But he pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding him with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
He was remanded in custody and will go on trial on the more serious charge before a visiting High Court judge on November 13.
The trial is expected to last for three days.
