A man has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Barry Dawson in Co Durham. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when Dawson was shot through the front window of his terraced house on Elm Street in Stanley.
Durham Constabulary confirmed that 38-year-old Kevin Dorward, from Annfield Plain, has been charged with murder in connection to the shooting. Michaela Hetherington, 35, also from Annfield Plain, has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Both Dorward and Hetherington have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Additionally, a 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, while a 20-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were arrested for assisting an offender. All three are currently in police custody.
Dawson’s family, who are being supported by specialist family liaison officers, have paid tribute to him, describing him as a “much-loved father, granddad, and partner who will be greatly missed.” They expressed their devastation, saying his loss will leave “an enormous gap” in their lives.
Police are following several lines of inquiry in the investigation and have urged anyone who saw a white Seat Arona with the registration number NA24 OJK on the day of the shooting in the Stanley and Annfield Plain areas to come forward. Durham Constabulary’s major crime team, comprising 35 detectives, is working tirelessly around the clock, alongside armed response officers, crime scene examiners, and search teams. Officers will continue their efforts in the area for an extended period as they work to uncover more information.
