A man has denied killing Tyson Fury’s cousin, a heavyweight boxing champion.
On Friday, Liam O’Pray, 21, made an appearance at Manchester Crown Court and entered a not-guilty plea in relation to the murder of Rico Burton, age 31.
On August 21, in the wee hours of Sunday, Mr. Burton was stabbed in front of a pub in Altrincham.
O’Pray also disputed that a 17-year-old youngster who suffered serious injuries in the event was intentionally wounded.
He admitted to having both cocaine and a weapon in his hands.
After the brief hearing, the defendant—who was dressed in a gray sweater—was remanded in jail.
The Recorder of Manchester, Judge Nicholas Dean QC, said that a hearing will take place on January 13 before the trial, which is scheduled to begin on February 6 and might last up to 10 days.
After Mr. Burton passed away, his cousin, a boxing champion, paid him homage online.
“Life is incredibly valuable and it may be taken away very quickly, appreciate every moment,” Fury said in an Instagram post. RIP Cruz Burton I pray that the Lord would give you a wonderful position in paradise. We’ll talk shortly.
During a liturgy at St. Michael’s Church in Flixton, hundreds of Rico’s family and friends also said a tearful farewell to him.
On carriages and trailers, mourners gathered for the funeral, many of them were wearing T-shirts with his face on the front. Mr. Burton’s casket was dragged by a horse to the funeral. On Rico’s last voyage, dozens of people trailed behind, some of whom sat near to the coffin.
After Mr. Burton passed away, tributes flooded in, headed by the boxer’s well-known cousin, Tyson Fury. Following the terrible murder of his cousin, the Wythenshawe-born, two-time world heavyweight champion posted on his social media accounts calling for a stop to knife violence.
the resolution of a protracted disagreement between two families from a traveling community.