Trial set for five men after murder of missing man

Michael Wheeler was found dead at a property in Yarlington

A trial date has been set for five men charged over the murder of a man whose body was discovered more than a month after he was last seen.

Michael Wheeler, from Yeovil, Somerset, had not been seen since 24 August, his body found by Avon and Somerset Police searching a property in Yarlington on 25 September.

Four men - David Garland, 39, Jack Rance, 28, Mark Roberts, 38, and Reuben Clare, 18 - have been charged with his murder and a fifth, Angus Warner, 32, with conspiracy to murder.

A plea and trial preparation hearing is set for 31 January, while a trial has been listed for 28 April.

The five defendants, who have been remanded into custody, appeared before Bristol Crown Court on 25 October.

The prosecution said investigations were ongoing at the site.

Concerns were raised for Michael Wheeler's welfare on 16 September, after he missed several regular appointments and his car was later found abandoned.

Police found his body when specialist search dogs alerted to the presence of human remains at a property.