A YOUNG man alleged to have been involved in the killing of teenager Pavandeep Daudher, who died after being stabbed in the leg on a Coventry petrol station forecourt, has been remanded in custody.
And Ethan Lilley heard at Warwick Crown Court that it is expected he will stand trial at the court at the end of September.
The 22-year-old, of Queen Isabel’s Avenue, Cheylesmore, Coventry, who appeared over a video link from prison, has been charged with 19-year-old Pavandeep’s murder.
The charge follows an incident at around 11pm on March 31 at the BP garage in Lockhurst Lane in Foleshill.
Pavandeep, from the Holbrooks area of the city, suffered a knife wound to his leg from which he died about an hour later, despite attempts to save him.
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said the case had been listed for ‘a determination about bail’ – although he pointed out there was in fact no application by Lilley for bail.
He said it was alleged Lilley, who also faces a charge of robbing another person who was with Pavandeep, was one of five people who went to the petrol station that night, allegedly armed.
It is suggested the ‘catalyst’ for the confrontation was that one of the alleged victims was ‘in the wrong part of the city’ for the other group.
Pavandeep ended up being stabbed, and when the other young man tried to drive away, it is alleged his car was rammed and he was attacked and robbed.
Nick Berry, defending, who like Mr Grieves-Smith was appearing through a video conferencing facility because of the coronavirus lockdown, confirmed: “There is no application for bail at this stage.”
And Judge Sylvia de Bertodano observed: “That does not rule out one later on.”
Of a suggested trial date of September 21, the judge said: “That is the date I’ve been given. We have a three-week slot then. If we can have an assurance that it will not run over, we can have that slot.”
She pointed out that otherwise, enquiries would have to be made whether a listing could be found for it at Birmingham Crown Court.
Mr Grieves-Smith responded: “If it’s just one defendant, I think three weeks is ample.”
But Mr Berry expressed reservations, telling the judge: “I think a three-week estimate is risky. I agree three weeks is ample for one defendant, but it’s highly likely there will be more defendants in this case.”
But fixing the trial for September 28, Judge de Bertodano remarked: “We can only deal with what we have got. If we don’t take this three-week slot, we will lose it.”
And, remanding Lilley in custody, she adjourned the case for a plea and trial preparation hearing to take place next month, adding: “We will have a much clearer idea by then of how the trial is going to work.”
