Man charged with murder over Co Durham shooting

A man has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a 60-year-old grandfather in Co Durham, police say.

Barry Dawson died when he was shot through a downstairs front window of his terraced house in Elm Street in Stanley on Saturday afternoon.

Durham Constabulary said Kevin Dorward, 38, of Annfield Plain, Co Durham, had been charged with murder while Michaela Hetherington, 35, also of Annfield Plain, had been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Both have been remanded in custody and will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The force said a 21-year-old man had also been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the case, while a 20-year-old man and 49-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

All three are in police custody, police added.

Mr Dawson's family continue to be supported by specialist family liaison officers.

In a tribute, Mr Dawson's family described him as a "much-loved father, granddad and partner who will be greatly missed".

"We are truly devastated, and his loss will leave an enormous gap in our lives," the family said.

A police spokesman said "several lines of inquiry" were being pursued and officers would continue to work in the area "for a significant period of time".

They appealed for anyone who had seen a white Seat Arona with the registration NA24 OJK on the Saturday in the Stanley and Annfield Plain area to come forward.

Durham Constabulary said it had a 35-strong team of detectives from its major crime team working "around the clock", alongside armed response officers, crime scene examiners, search teams and neighbourhood officers.