First photo of alleged murder victim released as brothers appear in court to face charge

David Rogers, 32, of Nora Street, South Shields, is alleged to have killed Thomas Rogers, 26, alongside their brother Samuel Rogers, 30, and Ryan Hurt, 22.

Thomas was found seriously hurt by the junction of Bristol Road and Mill Pool Way, which is a busy route in Bournbrook to the south-west of Birmingham, at 4.55pm on Saturday, August 22.

He was rushed to hospital but sadly pronounced dead a short time later, with flowers left in tribute to him in the wake of his shock death.

A post mortem examination found he died as a result of stab wound to the chest.

Today, Wednesday, September 2, the three men charged with his murder appeared before Birmingham Crown Court, where the next date was set for Friday, October 16, for a pre-trial hearing, with a trial hearing listed for January.

No pleas were offered and David Rogers, Samuel Rogers, of St Michaels Street, Sutton-In-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire and Ryan Hurt, 22, of Peel Crescent, Mansfield, were remanded in custody.

West Midlands Police confirmed two women and a man, who are all aged between 24 and 31, had been arrested in South Tyneside on suspicion of assisting an offender, after searches were carried out on its behalf by Northumbria Police in South Shields and Jarrow.

At that stage they were released under investigation.

The murder probe has also seen a 40-year-old man was released with no further action, while a woman aged 28 and 15-year-old girl were released on bailed pending further inquiries.

As officers made searches in South Tyneside, armed police were seen making checks in Egerton Road and Baring Street in South Shields.

Detectives have said inquiries are continuing as they piece together the circumstances of Thomas’s death.

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