Sixth man charged over shootings

The two girls were shot on 2 January

A sixth man has been charged in connection with the murder of two teenage girls at a New Year party

Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare were killed outside a party at a hairdressing salon in Aston in January this year.

A 23-year-old man from Handsworth has been charged with possession of a firearm.

West Midlands Police revealed on Friday the man was charged last month and will appear alongside the five other defendants.

The other men charged with the murders are Charlene's half-brother Marcus Junior Ellis, 23, from Winson Green, 21-year-old Tafarwa Beckford and 21-year-old Michael Gregory, both from Ladywood.

Nathan Martin, 24, and 19-year-old Rodrigo Simms, both from Smethwick, are also charged in connection with the shootings.

All six have been remanded in custody and will appear before Birmingham Crown Court in February.