Brothers in court over banker death

TWO brothers have been remanded in custody after they appeared before magistrates accused of the murder of banker Frank McGarahan this morning.

Tom Cowles, 21, and his brother Ben, 20, of Beaumont Road, Costessey, entered no plea to the charge of murder.

Ben is also charged with assault of Mr McGarahan's brother Kevin, cousin Shaun Ryan, and Lithuanian man Robertas Sinkevicius.

A third man, Daniel Moy, has also been charged with assaulting Mr McGarahan's cousin, but was not in court today.

Both appeared relaxed and were dressed casually in hooded tops. They gestured to their father at the back of the court as they were brought into the dock.

Defence solicitor Simon Nicholls said: “These are both young men who voluntarily handed themselves into the police to assist with their investigations.”

The pair were remanded in custody until October 17.

Mr McGarahan was spending a quiet evening with family and friends in Norwich when he was attacked in the early hours of Sunday.

He witnessed an assault on Mr Sinkevicius in Guildhall Hill and was attacked when he intervened.

A post mortem examination confirmed that he died of bleeding to the brain.

Murder squad detectives are still keen to hear from any witnesses.

Father of two Mr McGarahan, 45, of Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, was chief operating officer of Barclays Wealth.