Slaughterman denies murder

The alleged shooting happened near the mass burial site at Great Orton, Cumbria

A slaughterman has denied killing a colleague with a bolt gun at a foot-and-mouth animal disposal site.

Keith Hubbard, 37, from Atherstone, Warwickshire, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to murdering 27-year-old Stephen Smart in April.

Mr Smart, a butcher, was shot in the head with a bolt gun at Great Orton Airfield near Carlisle.

He was one of many slaughtermen drafted in from across the country to help with the mass cull of livestock to fight the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr Hubbard was granted £10,000 bail pending a trial.

He was bailed on condition he did not work as a slaughterman and stayed at his home address.

A trial date is still to be set.