Murder trial set to go ahead

An 18-year-old man is to be put on trial charged with the murder of a South Gloucestershire licensee.

Alexander Dix, 18, from Chipperfield Drive, Kingswood in Bristol, is to be put on trial, charged with murdering licensee Bob Todd.

Mr Dix, who is in custody, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on November 14 and pleaded not guilty. He was charged with murder and violent disorder. A trial date has yet to be set.

The publican Bob Todd, who was aged 56 and a father of two, died outside his pub in the village of Pucklechurch, South Gloucestershire, on Saturday, August 6, having been hit by a car.

He was allegedly run down after confronting a gang of teenagers who had attacked some youngsters near his pub. A 22-year-old man suffered a broken jaw in the attack.

Mr Todd, who ran the Star Inn in Pucklechurch, was a keen charity fund-raiser for local causes and was known as the "heart and soul" of the village.

He was described as a man who "lived life to the full" and in a statement his family said: "We are all absolutely devastated by the loss of Bob, a family man who held no grudges against anyone and wouldn't hesitate to put himself out to help others.

"Bob had time for everyone and treated everyone who knew him as if they were his best friend." Over 1,000 people attended the funeral.

Three 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, who are all from Kingswood, and who cannot be named for legal reasons, also appeared in court accused of violent disorder.

They entered guilty pleas.