Couple deny murdering Chester doorman

Jul 5 2011 by Carmella de Lucia, Chester Chronicle

A DOORMAN and his girlfriend have denied murdering Chester man Martin Ithell.

Scott Davidson, 23, of Hawthorne Road, Frodsham, and co-defendant Rachel Horton, 19, of Hawthorn Road, Little Sutton, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday (July 4), jointly accused of killing Mr Ithell, 49.

The co-accused, who remain in custody, formally entered not guilty pleas and will now face trial starting on October 10.

Mr Ithell’s bloodstained body was found in a car outside Blacon Police Station on March 12 this year.

It is alleged that the former bouncer, who lived at Robinson’s Croft, Great Boughton, was shot and stabbed at a house in Frodsham on Friday, March 11 before his body was driven to the police station.

In court on Monday, Davidson and Horton spoke only to confirm their names and enter their not guilty pleas.

Despite their separate addresses, neighbours understood that Davidson and Horton had been living together in Hawthorne Road, Frodsham.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Martin Ithell which took place in the tiny rural church of St Lawrence, Stoak, near Ellesmere Port, in April. Many had to stand outside the church building to listen to the service through loudspeakers.

Scott Davidson’s identical twin brother Jamie was killed in a car accident in Frodsham four years ago, in which another woman also lost her life.

Davidson and his twin, alongside his other brother Craig, were raised by their parents in Elton.

Former Sutton High School pupil Horton has previously been described as ‘sporty’ and ‘good’ at school, with former acquaintances of the teenager expressing their shock at hearing of her plight.