FOUR people charged in connection with the murder of a 20-year-old Mirfield man appeared together before a court for the first time yesterday.

Joe Church, 21, of Redlands Close, Mirfield, Arron Smith, 18, of Savile Street, Emley, and Nadeem Rashid, 21, of Lapwing View, Horbury Bridge, are all jointly charged with the murder of Josh Hirst.

Kirstie Rainford, 22, of Springbank Drive, Liversedge, has been charged with two counts of assisting an offender by providing clothes and credit cards. Rainford, dressed in a green hooded top and black trousers, was tearful throughout the brief hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

She appeared in the dock alongside Church and Rashid, who were both brought in from custody.

Smith appeared via a video link from Doncaster young offenders’ institution.

Rainford sat behind the other two defendants, flanked by security officers.

All the accused spoke only to confirm their names.