3 charged with murder over the death of man in Cramlington

Police have named the victim as 55 year old Sheldon Flanighan, from Northumberland

Author: Ellie KumarPublished 3rd Apr 2023

Officers investigating the death of a man outside a Cramlington pub have charged three people with murder.

At around 10pm on Saturday, April 1 police were called to the Bay Horse on Sanderson Terrace, following a report of two men having been struck by a van, which had driven away from the scene.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, one of the men, who can now be named as Sheldon Flanighan, from Northumberland, had been fatally injured, and died at the scene.

Specialist officers are supporting his family at this difficult time and ask that their privacy is respected.

The other man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

An investigation was launched by Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team (MIT) and three people were arrested in connection with the incident.

All three have today been charged with the murder of Sheldon Flanighan and attempted murder of the second male.

They are:

  • Toby Kelly, 37 of Wansbeck Avenue in Blyth. Kelly has also been charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis
  • David Fairclough, 32, of Emerson Road, Newbiggin-by-the-sea
  • Shannon Wooden, 27, of Blyth

They are all due to appear at Bedlington Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, April 3.)

Officers will be carrying out further enquiries in the Cramlington area today and ask that anyone with concerns or information they would like to pass on makes themselves known.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector, Dave Johnson, of Northumbria Police said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with the families of everyone affected by this tragic incident and we ask that their privacy is respected while they attempt to come to terms with what has happened.

“We have now charged three people with murder and attempted murder and are working hard to establish exactly what happened in the moments before and after this incident.

“While our enquiries continue, we’d ask that people refrain from any type of speculation or commentary on social media and urge anyone who has information but hasn’t yet come forward to do so.”

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