Teens in court over Eastbourne murder (From The Argus)

Teens in court over Eastbourne murder

4:55pm Monday 20th August 2012 in News

Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with the murder of an Eastbourne man who died after an argument outside a convenience store.

Wearing a black sweatshirt, Shane Noble, 19, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth when he appeared at Eastbourne Magistrates' Court today.

Noble, of no fixed address, is jointly accused with a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, of killing Christopher Poole in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Mr Poole, 46, was attacked outside the Premier convenience store in The Hydneye, Hampden Park, shortly before 9pm on Thursday.

The attack left him seriously ill and he died in hospital from his injuries on Friday after never regaining consciousness.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Poole, from Iden Street, Eastbourne, died as a result of injuries to his head, Sussex police said.

His partner, Penny, said in a statement: "I'm devastated by the loss of a best friend and my soulmate, also the great father figure to all our children.

"You'll always be in my heart and I love you forever."

Mr Poole's mother, Diane, said: "Chris was a great and loving son, brother to devastated Rick, lover of wild birds and animals and a friend to anyone.

"Chris attended Ratton School with Rick and was an excellent gymnast and always kept himself fit.

"Such a waste of a lovely young man who gave such a lot to so many and who was loved so dearly by us all."

Noble was remanded in custody and will appear at Lewes Crown Court tomorrow.

The 15-year-old boy, who appeared in the dock separately from Noble, was remanded in custody into the care of the local authority and will also appear at Lewes Crown Court tomorrow.

A 13-year-old boy, who was also arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on conditional police bail until September 3, pending further inquiries.