Man charged with Halifax 'car-theft' murder

A man aged 20 appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering Kevin Jackson, who died after chasing suspected car thieves outside his home just after Christmas.

Mr Jackson, 31, who had two children, was attacked on 30 December in Skircoat Green, Halifax, and died in hospital on New Year's Day.

Raees Khan, from Manningham, Bradford, stood in the dock at Halifax magistrates' court with three security guards for the 10-minute hearing. He walked into the court room handcuffed to one of the guards but the handcuffs were released as the proceedings began. Mr Khan, who is also charged with conspiracy to steal a Toyota car belonging to Roy Wayman, Mr Jackson's father-in-law, spoke only to confirm his name and give his date of birth and address. He was remanded in custody to appear at Bradford Crown Court on Monday.

Photographs of Mr Khan and another man, Rangzaib Akhtar, were circulated by police last month after Mr Jackson's murder. Police said Mr Jackson was stabbed a number of times in the head with a screwdriver-type implement.

Mr Akhtar, 19, from Bradford, was arrested last month and has appeared in court charged with conspiracy to steal the car. Earlier this week he was remanded in custody to appear at Bradford Crown Court on Monday. Rashad Zaman, 20, from Manningham, Bradford, has also been charged with conspiring to steal the car and will appear at the Crown Court on Monday.

Mr Khan's solicitor made no application for bail.