A MAN accused of the murder of 21- year-old Connor Upton has denied the charge.
George Lawrence, 46, of Harper Avenue, Horninglow, Burton, entered a not guilty plea when he appeared before Stafford Crown Court yesterday.
The defendant denied murdering Mr Upton, a father of two, following an alleged incident near Merlin’s Nightclub, in Station Street, at around 3.45am on June 6 this year.
Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, asked for the case to be adjourned for a trial, which will be held on February 28 next year at Stafford.
The hearing is expected to last six days.
Lawrence's barrister, Mr Ekwall Tiwana, made no application for bail.
Judge Simon Tonking remanded Lawrence in custody until December 6, when the prosecution will have to apply for the custody time limit to be extended.
Family and friends were left devastated by the death of Mr Upton, leaving the scene outside Merlin’s Nightclub strewn with floral tributes.
One of them read: “Daddy, our Number 1.
We will miss you always, we love you so much and we will never let you go. Your girls Destynne and Kirstynne." More than 1,000 people joined a Facebook tribute group to Mr Upton and people turned out in droves for his funeral.
Police increased patrols in the town and Burton’s MP Andrew Griffiths used his maiden speech in parliament to a lobby for a change in late night licensing laws.
