A teen trio were remanded overnight after appearing in court charged with the Jericho ‘murder’.

The three men are said by prosecutors to have fatally stabbed Alex Innes, 25, in Walton Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Innes, who was described in tributes left at the scene of the stabbing as a ‘kind and funny soul’, was pronounced dead at the scene.

READ MORE: Live updates from first court appearance of murder accused

Appearing before Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Thursday afternoon, Michael Oluyitan, 19, of Waynflete Road, Barton, Bradley Morton, 18, of Cumberlege Close, Marston, and Keyarno Allen, 18, of Furlong Close, Blackbird Leys spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.

Flanked in the dock in courtroom one by custody staff, each man wore grey tracksuit trousers and a grey jumper. Oluyitan also wore a white towel around his neck.

District Judge Kamlesh Rana explained that the offences they face – of murder and possession of a knife – were too serious for her to deal with and the matters would be sent to the crown court.

“I have no power to grant you bail,” she told the men.

READ MORE: More tributes appear overnight at scene of fatal stabbing

All three were remanded in custody overnight and will face Judge Ian Pringle KC, the honorary Recorder of Oxford, at the city’s crown court on Friday morning.

As they were taken down from the dock, Morton and Oluyitan waved towards the public gallery. The latter wore the white towel, which had been slung around his neck, over his head like a hood.

The hearing, which lasted for little more than three minutes, was watched from the public gallery by two members of each man’s family.

The defendants’ solicitors were sat in the well of the court, as did prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish.

A detective from Thames Valley Police’s major crime team, which is investigating the alleged murder, was also in court.

Another man, 18, from Oxford, remains in custody – having been arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder.

Four other men who were arrested on suspicion of murder - two aged 18, a 21-year-old and a 22-year-old - were released from custody on bail on Wednesday.

A further three people, including two women, who faced allegations of assisting an offender were bailed on Sunday.

Oxford Mail: Alex Innes with cousin Chey Brown, who paid tribute to him Picture: FAMILYAlex Innes with cousin Chey Brown, who paid tribute to him Picture: FAMILY (Image: Chey Brown)

Earlier this week, Mr Innes’ cousin Chey Brown paid tribute the man she described as her ‘twin’. “You will forever be in my heart. You always had my back and I’m forever grateful for you,” she added.

Dozens of bunches of flowers have been left near the scene of the alleged murder, together with candles, bottles of Corona beer and other tributes.

In one card – attached to a bouquet of flowers – Mr Innes was said to have brought a smile to everyone’s face. Another tribute described him as ‘one of the polite young men’.

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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