A pair accused of assisting two killers in the wake of Darren MacCormick‘s murder will now be tried in November.

Aiysha Lazereg and Zarahn Zaman, both 21, were due to stand trial at Oxford Crown Court this week accused of assisting an offender to commit an indictable offence.

Prosecutors claim the pair, both from Milton Keynes, helped out Didcot killers Brookton Lagan and Taison Cyrille after the fatal stabbing of dad-of-three Mr MacCormick on January 9, 2020.

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They are accused of assisting Lagan and Cyrille between January 8 and 11 last year by giving them clothing, money and travel documents.

Prosecutors allege Zaman also bought a mobile phone that was in Lagan’s possession at the time of Mr MacCormick’s murder. He is said to have retained and used the device between January 8 and February 5 last year.

Zaman, of Fullers Slade, Milton Keynes, has pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice. Lazereg, of Downhead Park, Milton Keynes, denies a single count of assisting an offender.

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At a short hearing on Tuesday morning, Judge Ian Pringle QC re-fixed the trial for November 21. The trial is expected to last up to five days.

Lagan and Cyrille are currently serving life sentences after they were found guilty in 2020 of Mr MacCormick’s murder.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward