Man in court accused of murdering grandad Clement Desmier (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ravenscliffe 63-year-old brought into court in wheelchair

7:00am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter

A man in a wheelchair was pushed into court by security officers yesterday to face a charge of murdering Bradford grandfather Clement ‘Butch’ Desmier.

Magistrates had to move to the Bradford Crown Court building for the short remand hearing because the wheelchair could not be accommodated in the dock at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court.

The accused man – Derek Newby, 63, of Rimswell Holt, Ravenscliffe, Bradford – was pushed past four of Mr Desmier’s daughters who were sitting in the public gallery for the hearing.

Scruffy-looking Newby, who was not wearing shoes and had his legs and lower body covered by a white blanket, was handcuffed to a security officer and sat in front of the dock. Five other security officers were in the courtroom for the three-minute hearing.

Newby, who was unshaven with lank brown collar-length hair and wearing a grey and blue-striped casual top, struggled to hear the court clerk and had to be helped by the security officer as he confirmed his name, date of birth and address.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, was also in court.

The magistrates were told by the clerk that they were sitting at the crown court “purely because of the facilities”.

The clerk said Newby was accused of murdering Clement Desmier, at Bradford, between August 21 and 24 last year. She said it was an indictable-only matter and the crown court dealt with bail for murder cases.

Prosecutor Nadine Clough asked the magistrates to send the case to the crown court with the next hearing date tomorrow when bail could be addressed. Newby’s solicitor, Gulfraz Khan, said there was no application for bail and that issue could be resolved before the crown court.

Chairman of the Bench Gamil Hadad said: “We’ll be sending the case straight to the crown court. Mr Newby will be held incarcerated until February 14 when he will be brought back to the crown court.”

Mr Desmier, 68, who had six children and nine grandchildren, was found dead at his home in Rowlestone Rise, Greengates, Bradford, on Thursday, August 23. The case has featured on the BBC Crimewatch programme and Crimestoppers offered a £5,000 reward.