Three men have appeared in court today accused of separate murders as communities across Merseyside reel from a spate of killings.
Four murder investigations have been launched in the region in the last week alone, with arrests made in a number of cases. This morning, men accused of carrying out two of those murders were brought before courts. Mark Wheeler was appeared before magistrates in one court accused of murdering Karen Wheeler in their Birkenhead home on May 11.
Officers rushed to a flat block on Vittoria Close in Birkenhead at around 7.15pm on Thursday, May 12, following reports of a concern for the welfare of a woman. Once police and paramedics arrived they found Karen, 62, and she died at the scene. Wheeler, 51, was not invited to enter a plea to the murder charge and his case was sent to Liverpool Crown Court later this week.
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In a separate court, Jeffrey Kelly was brought before a judge for his first appearance after being charged with the murder of Derek Burns, whose death occured four days before Karen Wheeler’s. Mr Burns was found dead in a flat at 87 Newsham Drive in Tuebrook. Kelly, 56, lives in a flat in the same building and was later charged with his murder.
One woman who lived next to Mr Burns for several years paid tribute to her neighbour, who she described as "very nice and polite". She told the ECHO: "He was a very helpful guy who did our garden for us, always came over for a chat and we helped him out with some furniture for his flat. Always a very nice and polite guy who always had a smile on his face. I'm just shocked at what has happened."
As well as Wheeler and Jeffrey, another man was brought to Liverpool Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of dad to be Michael Toohey in Liverpool city centre last month. Mr Toohey, 18, was beaten to death outside an internet cafe on London Road on Saturday, April 16.
Michael's family later paid tribute to their "kind, caring and courageous" son, while his girlfriend Rhianna Draper said he made her the "happiest girl alive" in a heartbreaking tribute. Public tributes also poured in for the dad-to-be, with many leaving flowers close to the scene.
Anthony Williams, a 31 year old of Hillbrook Drive in Walton , was arrested with another man yesterday and later charged with the murder of Mr Toohey. He will also appear before a judge at Liverpool Crown Court later this week.
A 33-year-old man of no fixed address, who was also arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder, has been conditionally bailed. A 34-year-old woman from Fazakerley remains on bail following her arrest last month on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Anyone who witnessed any of the incidents or who has any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101. You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.
