TWO men appeared in court yesterday accused of helping gunman Raoul Moat during his seven days on the run.

Karl Ness, 26, and Qhuram Awan, 23, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court yesterday charged with conspiracy to commit murder and possessing a firearm with intent.

The pair, who police initially feared were being held hostage by Moat, are alleged to have been with the exbouncer when he shot dead Chris Brown and wounded Samantha Stobbart at her home in Birtley, near Chesterle- Street.

They are accused of obtaining a sawn-off shotgun for Moat before he was released from prison, and providing supplies as he hid out in Rothbury before he died after a sixhour stand-off on the banks of the River Coquet.

Mr Ness, of Dudley, North Tyneside, and Mr Awan, of Blyth, Northumberland, will return to the same court in the week beginning November 1 when they are expected to enter a plea.

During a brief hearing yesterday, a provisional trial date was set for January 24.

Kingsley Hyland, prosecuting, asked for a provisional four-week trial and said: “There is a real possibility of further defendants being charged.”

In all, 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of assisting Moat during his weeklong rampage.

Meanwhile, a pathologist has carried out a second postmortem examination on Moat.

Two Tasers were fired at Moat at the climax of the stand-off and his family have paid for the second autopsy, the findings of which have yet to be released.