A teenager accused of the killing of Tomasz Oleszak appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for the first time in the case today (Monday October 10).

The 14-year-old defendant, who spoke only to acknowledge his name and that he understood proceedings, is charged with the murder of Tomasz in an incident near Whitehills Nature Park, on Springwell Estate, Gateshead, on Monday evening last week (October 3).

Tomasz died from the injuries suffered in the attack in hospital early the following morning.

The defendant was arrested on suspicion of murder and charged later in the week, appearing before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, on Friday.

Read more: Tomasz Oleszak: Footballers pay tribute to Gateshead teenager

He was remanded into the care of the local authority and the case was sent to Newcastle Crown Court where he appeared today before the Recorder of Newcastle, Judge Paul Sloan.

The charge was not put during the ten-minute hearing, and the defendant’s counsel, Peter Makepeace made no bail application on his client’s behalf.

But he told the court that a psychiatrist has already been instructed by the defence team to produce a report for the court to address the defendant’s capability to give instructions.

A trial date was agreed between all parties for March 21, next year, setting aside up to ten days for the hearing, ahead of the limit to detain the defendant in custody without trial, on April 6.

Judge Sloan set the plea hearing at the court for Tuesday November 8.

Adjourning until that day, he told the defendant he would again be produced at court for the hearing.

He remanded the defendant to remain in youth detention accommodation overseen by the local authority, until then.

Read more: Tomasz Oleszak: Boy, 14, charged with murder appears in Newcastle Magistrates' Court

The death of Tomasz, a well-liked teenager among school friends at Gateshead’s Cardinal Hume Catholic School and teammates at Gateshead Cleveland Hall CA FC, sparked an out pouring of grief.

A candlelit vigil was staged at Springwell Community Association, in Gateshead, on Friday evening, while a special mass was staged in his memory, attended by members of his family, taken by Father Paul Joseph Zielinski, at St Oswald’s Church, Wrekenton, Gateshead, yesterday.

Meanwhile, a minute’s silence was observed before matches played by all Gateshead Cleveland Hall CA FC teams, both male and female sides across the age ranges, over the weekend.

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