Teenagers in court over alley murder

Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with murdering a Sedgley man near his home.

It comes as friends and family of Shane Watson called for the closure of the alley where he was attacked.

Shylon Wishart, 19, of North Springfield, and James Cartwright, 18, of Sandyfields Road, both Sedgley, are accused of killing the 23-year-old.

Mr Watson, a former worker at a local debt collecting firm, was found with serious head injuries in an alleyway in Springfield Grove, near his home in Monument Lane, on Saturday morning.

Retail worker Wishart and student Cartwright spoke only to confirm their identities at the hearing at Dudley magistrates yesterday. The pair were remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court tomorrow.

Shane, a former pupil at Dormston School, died in hospital after being found in the alley at about 3.20am.

Hundreds of people have now signed a petition calling for the passageway to be closed, saying it attracts trouble.

Friends and family of Mr Watson yesterday gathered near to the alleyway to leave floral tributes and to appeal for signatures for the petition, which now has more than 300 names. His cousin, Scott Maher-Butler, who was with him on the night he died, said: "In the evening the alleyway is dark and covered. We want it shut for good."

Councillor Judy Foster of Dudley Council said the authority would take advice from the police about whether any action was needed at the alley.