A man has denied a charge of murder and five counts of attempted murder after a group of pedestrians were struck by a car in Nottinghamshire. Duane Anthony, 40, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
The incident occurred shortly before 1:10 BST on 9 May in Market Place, Arnold, when a Vauxhall Astra collided with several people. Tyler Fairman, 26, was among those hit and tragically died three days later in hospital. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that four other men suffered minor injuries in the collision.
Mr Anthony, of Marton Road, Bulwell, also pleaded not guilty to one count of driving while disqualified. Appearing via video link from HMP Manchester, he was informed by Judge Nirmal Shant KC that his trial is scheduled to commence on 7 October.
Defence barrister Sue Rodham told the court that while Mr Anthony does not dispute being the driver of the vehicle, he maintains he had “no intention to kill or to cause really serious bodily harm”. This indicates that the trial will likely focus on the defendant's state of mind and intent at the time of the incident.
Following Mr Fairman's death, his family released a statement through the police, describing the world as a “much darker place” without him. They highlighted his character, saying he was “the kind of person who would do anything for anybody” and a “devoted partner, a loyal friend, a loving son and a father figure to so many people around him.” The statement also noted his “infectious smile and laugh,” and his ability to “light up any room he walked into.”
Local non-league football club Woodthorpe Park Rangers also paid tribute to Mr Fairman, who was a member of their team. They expressed “complete heartbreak” after the incident, which affected three of their players. After his death, the club posted a social media tribute, affectionately referencing him as “forever our number 6.”