A SECOND teenager has appeared in court charged with the murder of a father-of-two who was stabbed to death two days before Christmas.

The 16-year-old, from the Stanley area of County Durham, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared before Consett Magistrates’ Court wearing a grey hooded top.

He is accused, along with another 16-year-old, of killing 33-year-old David Scott who suffered five stab wounds in a lane behind Rose Avenue in South Moor in the early hours of December 23.

The case has been sent to Newcastle Crown Court and the youth’s first appearance there will be tomorrow (Tuesday). 

Chairman of the magistrates bench David Wilmers said: “We have no choice but to remand you into youth detention until you appear at the crown court tomorrow.”

The other 16-year-old has already appeared at the crown court and a date for a plea hearing has been set for March 22, with a provisional trial date set fixed for June 24.

Mr Scott, who was unemployed, lived in nearby South Stanley with his mother, Janice, and his two young children, a boy aged five and a girl who turned seven on January 2.

Rose Avenue residents heard his screams for help and tried to save him but he died hours later at the RVI in Newcastle.

Detectives investigating Mr Scott’s death have today said they need to trace a body warmer which may have been discarded in the Stanley area.

The sky blue Mckenzie body warmer is sleeveless, padded and with a hood.

The front fastens with both a zip and poppers.

Detective Superintendent Paul Goundry, who is leading the murder investigation, said: “We need to find this body warmer, which we suspect has been dumped somewhere in the local area.

“I want to hear from anyone who may have seen any items of clothing dumped at the roadside, either in a bag or loose, any clothing which looks like it’s been destroyed by burning, or clothing left in a bin which has been put out for collection.”

People can ring the enquiry team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.