03
Oct
Two Harrogate men appear in court charged with murder
Two men have appeared in court charged with murdering a 56-year-old man in Harrogate.
Jason Mark Johnson, 26, and Philip John Watson, 34, are accused of murdering Paul Tillet at a flat on Strawberry Dale on Sunday, September 29.
They were charged with Mr Tillet’s murder on Wednesday and appeared at York Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday, October 3).
Neither of the defendants entered pleas to the charges and will next appear at Leeds Crown Court tomorrow.
Mr Johnson, of the Harrogate area but of no fixed address, and Mr Watson, who gave his address as that belonging to Harrogate Homeless Project on Bower Street in Harrogate, were remanded in custody until their appearance in Leeds tomorrow.
They were arrested after police were called out to reports of an incident in Strawberry Dale on Sunday night.
A third man in his 40s who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was released on bail.
Mr Tillet’s family issued a statement yesterday in which they spoke of Mr Tillet as a “much-loved son, dad, brother and uncle, who will be truly missed and forever in our hearts”.
Paul’s daughter said:
My dad's life ended way too soon. He will be missed dearly by close friends and family.
He brought me up with so much love and respect and I'll always remember the great moments we shared.
I'll forever miss him and I hold him close to my heart, and be devastated on the things he'll miss throughout my life. I hope he is at peace.
The police cordon at the block of flats on Strawberry Dale.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Tim Bentley, of North Yorkshire Police, said:
Our thoughts are with Paul’s family who are being supported by our specialist family-liaison officers.
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