A MAN has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a 74-year-old caretaker.
Gavin Cox, 24, of Park Road, Waterfoot, will next face a preliminary hearing at Preston Crown Court on February 21.
He was also charged with handling stolen goods.
A second man, Paul Greatholder, 42, of Bacup Road, Rawtenstall, was remanded to Preston court charged with assisting in the disposal of evidence after the alleged murder of Bryan "Joe" Platt, of Sycamore Close, Burnley, at Nunhills Mill, Stacksteads, on Saturday February 10.
No applications for bail were made by the defendants' solicitors.
Sarah Bugat, 31, of Church Street, Stacksteads, was charged with handling stolen goods belonging to Mr Platt and was granted conditional bail until the February 21 Preston hearing.
Cox, wearing a dark blue and red sweatshirt, stood in the dock between two women police officers and seemed close to tears throughout the two-minute hearing, during which he spoke only to confirm his name and address and that he understood the charge.
Cox was represented by Philip Whittaker, of Walker Crompton Solicitors of Rawtenstall, and Greatholder and Bugat by Bill Rawstron, also of Walker Crompton.
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