Five men plead not guilty to murdering Yeovil man

37-year-old Michael Wheeler had not been seen or heard from since August 24th last year.

Author: Harry LongPublished 31st Jan 2025

Five men have denied murdering a man whose body was discovered more than a month after he was last seen.

37-year-old Michael Wheeler, from Yeovil, had not been seen or heard from since August 24th last year.

His body was discovered at a property in Yarlington near Wincanton on September 25th.

Five men - Mark Roberts, 38, Angus Warner, 32, Reuben Clare, 18, David Garland, 39, and Jack Rance, 28 - all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Wheeler on August 24 last year.

They also denied a charge of conspiracy to murder Mr Wheeler on a date between August 1 and August 25 last year.

The five defendants appeared before Bristol Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.

Judge William Hart fixed a pre-trial review for March 21, while a trial has been listed to begin on April 28 before Mr Justice Linden.

They were all remanded into custody ahead of the trial.

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