Another defendant pleads not guilty ahead of major trial in Walsall disorder which left one man shot and three others stabbed

Umar Siddique, aged 24, of Mount Street, Caldmore, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm and assisting an offender concerning the violence at Reedswood Lane on July 31 last year.

Siddique, who missed a previous hearing, stood among his co-defendants in the dock and spoke to confirm his name and say "not guilty" to both charges concerning the Old Birchills disorder.

Mohammed Sajid, aged 38, of Exeter Place, Alumwell; Amar Shazad, aged 37, of Victor Street, Caldmore; Hezar Tyaiz, aged 20, of Alumwell Road, Alumwell; Khurham Sajad, aged 23, of Hucker Road, Pleck; Shazad Mahmood, aged 45, of Drayton Street; and Waheed Ayub, aged 28, of Westbourne Street, Butts; previously pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder, together with others unknown.

Iyaiz, Sajad and Ayub also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, possessing a shotgun and possessing a blade.

Mahmood also pleaded not guilty to possessing a shotgun, possessing a blade and possessing an offensive weapon.

Kamron Moore, aged 22 and of Deepmore Avenue, Reedswood, also pleaded not guilty to possessing a shotgun and possessing an offensive weapon. Amar Shazhad also pleaded not guilty to possessing a shotgun.

An eight week trial, one of the largest of its type n the region this year, is set to get underway in three weeks.

Four men were taken to hospital following allegations of men armed with machetes, baseball and cricket bats and a shot being fired at a car in Reedswood Lane in the Birchills area of the town shortly before midnight on July 31 last year.

After the disorder Walsall Police invoked section 60 stop-and-search powers and closed Reedswood Close off to the public for several hours.