Youth remanded over crash deaths

A teenager has been remanded in custody charged with killing two musicians in a Newcastle car crash.

Joseph Scurfield, 46, and Keith Morris, 52, died in an accident involving a car outside Ladbrokes, in Westgate Road, on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old youth appeared before the city's magistrates charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and other driving offences.

He will appear before Newcastle's youth court via video link next Friday.

A 21-year-old woman arrested in connection with the deaths has been bailed pending further inquires.

No pleas

Mr Morris, from Elswick, was well known in local jazz circles as a musician and composer and Mr Scurfield, also of Elswick, was a member of the popular comedy and music group the Old Rope String Band.

Mr Morris died at the scene while his friend died at Newcastle General Hospital.

No pleas were entered at court on Friday and the teenager spoke only to confirm his name and address.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wept during the hearing and was handed a tissue by one of the two security guards who sat with him in the dock.

He is also charged with failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving without insurance.