Pair Deny Murder Of Missing Nicola Payne

Two men accused of killing Coventry mother Nicola Payne, who went missing 23 years ago, have pleaded not guilty.

Nigel Barwell and Thomas O'Reilly, both 50 and from Coventry, appeared before Birmingham Crown Court charged with murder.

Eighteen-year-old Nicola Payne was last seen on 14 December 1991 after leaving her boyfriend's house to go to her parents'.

She left behind a son who was seven months old at the time and despite numerous searches her body has never been found.

Barwell and O'Reilly were first arrested in connection with the teenager's disappearance in late 2013.

They were released on conditional bail until West Midlands police formally charged them in January 2015.

Nigel Barwell appeared in the dock wearing a grey shirt and rosary bead necklace and Thomas O'Reilly wore a grey sweatshirt.

Mr Barwell told the court he was "100% not guilty" while Mr O'Reilly also entered a not guilty plea.

As the two men left the dock Mr Barwell shouted that there were "two innocent men in custody", which was followed up by a cry from the public gallery of "they're innocent".

A trial date has been set for 5 October 2015 and is estimated to last between six and eight weeks.