A YOUNG Carlisle man has formally denied that he “assisted” an alleged murderer to dispose of a car.

Marcus Goodfellow, 20, entered his not guilty plea to the charge when he appeared at the city’s crown court. The allegation is that he “assisted” the man accused of murdering Annan man Paul Taylor (pictured).

Court papers show the charge faced by Goodfellow, of Greystone Road, Carlisle, specifies that he allegedly helped 20-year-old Jack Crawley to dispose of a Vauxhall Corsa car “between October 17 and October 20 2023.”

Specifically, the charge alleges that he “arranged transport away from incriminating evidence, with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person who had committed the offence of murder, knowing or believing the said person to be guilty of the offence or some other offence.”

At the crown court, Goodfellow was represented by defence barrister Peter Byrne, while the prosecution barrister was  William Beardmore.

Goodfellow spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Judge Nicholas Barker set a timetable for the handling of the case, which will include a further hearing next month and a likely trial date in October, with the trial expected to last three weeks.

In the meantime, Goodfellow was granted bail with certain conditions, which include him not having contact with three named individuals and reporting on a weekly basis to the city’s Durranhill Police HQ.

* Crawley, 20, of Sheehan Crescent, Carlisle, who is currently remanded in custody, has formally denied murdering Mr Taylor and is due to face a Carlisle Crown Court trial, which is scheduled to start on October 1.