TWO men appeared in court yesterday charged over the death of a pensioner who was shot in his local pub.

Fred Fowler, 72, was shot at the Tap and Barrel pub, in Hendon, Sunderland, last month. The attack also left 19-year-old Michael Nixon injured.

William Tobin, 46, of Kilwick Street, Hartlepool, and Lee Hey, 19, of Patterdale, Hartlepool, appeared at Sunderland Magistrates' Court charged with murder and attempted murder.

They were remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

A third man, Robert Fox, 36, of Rotherham Road, Sunderland, appeared in court last week charged with murder and was remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on October 8.

He is also charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life in a separate incident in March this year.