Man Charged With Nephew's Murder

The 31-year-old uncle of a teenager found with fatal stab wounds in Tyne and Wear has appeared in court charged with his murder.

Alan Cooper was at Sunderland Magistrates' Court for a five minute hearing, a day after his nephew Jordan Cooper was killed.

Police were called to an address in Newriggs, Washington at 12.15am on Tuesday where they found the boy seriously injured.

He died later at Sunderland Royal Hospital. His uncle, wearing dark jogging pants and a black sweatshirt, stood in the dock of court 1 of Sunderland Magistrates' Court, flanked by two security officers.

Tearful relatives sat in the public gallery, with detectives.

Cooper, said by police to live in Newriggs, told the court he was of no fixed abode.

When asked by the clerk for his address, he replied: "I haven't got one.''

There was no reaction from the public gallery as Cooper, who had a tattoo on the back of his neck, was led away.

No bail application was made and magistrates remanded him in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court within 48 hours.