THREE men have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of 21-year-old Sam Wilson in York.

Robbie Mark McHale, 19, and Jack David Alexander, 21, appeared over a video link from Hull Prison yesterday for the plea and case-management hearing at Leeds Crown Court which Linden Lee Smith, 20, attended in person.

During the 12-minute hearing, each denied unlawfully killing Mr Wilson, who was allegedly involved in a violent incident in Haxby Road before he was hit by a taxi in the early hours of October 11.

A trial date has already been set for March 23 next year. Judge Guy Kearl QC ordered the prosecution to serve its report from the pathologist by January 9 and set other dates for documents to be served.

Smith, of Kirkham Avenue, Huntington, York had his bail extended to the trial on condition of residence, an electronic curfew from 10.30pm to 5.30am, reporting daily to Fulford Police Station, not to enter licensed premises and not to contact his co-accused or prosecution witnesses.

McHale of Fifth Avenue and Alexander of Fox Covert, Huntington, York were both remanded in custody.

Judge Kearl told them: “I have made a number of orders to ensure your legal teams have access to all of the information they require in order to present your cases.”