Judge frees manslaughter charge youth on bail

ONE of two youths accused of killing Minehead man Tim Chilcott has been released from custody by a judge.
The 16-year-old was granted bail when he appeared on a manslaughter charge in Exeter Crown Court yesterday, Tuesday, January 29.
Judge Graham Cottle ordered the youth to live with a relative in Edmonton, London, while on bail and to report to his local police station every Friday.
The judge also imposed an 8 pm to 6 am curfew on the teenager and banned him from entering Somerset other than to attend appointments with his legal team.
The youth was further ordered not to contact any witnesses in the case, nor any other defendants.
The teenager appeared in court with 19-year-old Sean Wylds, of Alcombe, Minehead, who was also charged with manslaughter following Mr Chilcott's death in hospital on January 21, 36 hours after he had been found unconscious in a Minehead town centre street.
Wylds was remanded in custody.
Judge Cottle adjourned the hearing for seven weeks while prosecution papers were prepared, with a view to taking a plea and holding a case management hearing five weeks later.

• Meanwhile, an inquest into Mr Chilcott's death was opened yesterday, when evidence was given that he died from a fractured skull.
  Two policemen who found Mr Chilcott lying at the junction of Blenheim Road and The Avenue at first thought he was all right but then realised he had blood on his mouth and chin and that the pupils of his eyes were dilated.