Washington man Christopher Graham due to stand trial accused of murdering Simon Bowman in his Jarrow flat

Simon Bowman was found dead inside his flat in High Street, Jarrow, leading police to launch a murder inquiry into his death.

Wearside man Christopher Graham faces the allegation following the death of the 54-year-old, who was found dead inside his home address in High Street just after noon on Tuesday, May 14, this year.

Graham, 30, of Romney Avenue, Washington, will stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court with the case listed to start on Monday, December 2.

In the wake of the grandfather’s death, Northumbria Police confirmed Mr Bowman had not been seen since the Sunday, with an inquiry launched into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Police and forensic officers on the scene of the investigation in High Street, Jarrow.

At the time, his friends Mick and Kelly Collingwood led the tributes to Mr Bowman, saying they had been "very saddened" to learn of his passing.

They said: "He was a devoted father, grandfather and best friend, a man who made mistakes in the past, however, he battled back to regain a place in society.

"To us he was a loving caring man with a big heart.

“He will be a great loss to us all."

Friends said Simon Bowman said he was a devoted father and grandfather as they paid tribute to him.

As the investigation got under way, the senior investigating officer in the case, Detective Superintendent John Bent, offered reassurances to the community and said that it was “an isolated incident, not a random attack between strangers.”

Extra police officers were drafted into the town to carry out additional patrols as inquiries got underway, while specially-trained officers were supporting Mr Bowman’s family.

High Street in Jarrow was closed off by Northumbria Police as specialist teams got to work.

The flat was sealed off by police as inquiries were carried out into the death of Simon Bowman.