THREE men have appeared in court charged with the murder of a man who was found dead in a North-East hostel.
Ashley Cochrane was found with serious head injuries in Catherine House, in Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
The 29-year-old was taken to the Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary but was pronounced dead on arrival.
George Steven Dixon, 38, of Shields Road, Byker; Lee Annis, 39, of Fletcher House, Percy Main and Sean Histon, 32, of Mitford Gardens, Wallsend, each face one count of murder and one count of burglary.
Mr Histon has also been charged with an assault on January 1.
The men appeared before magistrates sitting at Newcastle Crown Court on Saturday.
They were remanded in custody, and all three are due to appear before a judge at the court today.
Police are appealing for help to trace a white jacket as part of the investigation. To help call 101.
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