A WORCESTER teenager accused of blasting another young man with a shotgun in an alleged attempt to kill him has been remanded in custody until his trial in March next year.

Pray Maphosa pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to the attempted murder of Bailey Atkinson during an incident in Stoke Aldermoor, Coventry, on September 2.

Maphosa, aged 18, of Hamilton Road, Worcester, also denied a second charge of possessing a firearm, a shotgun, with intent to endanger life.

The charges follow an incident in Pinley Fields, Stoke Aldermoor, at 10.30pm at night.

Eighteen-year-old Mr Atkinson was with friends in the street when he was shot at close range with a shotgun.

He suffered serious injury to his arm, and was treated by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to hospital where it is said he needed ‘extensive surgery.’

Asked by Judge Andrew Lockhart QC what Maphosa’s defence was, his barrister said he accepted being present at the scene, but that it was someone else who had the gun and fired it.

The judge said the trial, which prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith indicated was likely to last for three to five days, would take place on March 22 next year.

Adjourning the case for trial, with a pre-trial hearing in February, Judge Lockhart remanded Maphosa in custody.