Five of the seven men accused in the murder of a Canadian biker -- shot dead on a highway in Britain last August -- pleaded not guilty on Friday.
The men, charged with both murder and firearms offences, entered their pleas via video link to the Birmingham Crown Court.
Gerald Michael Tobin, 35, was riding the M40 through the central England county of Warwickshire when he was shot and killed in broad daylight on Aug. 12, after leaving the Bulldog Bash motorcycle festival -- a Hells Angels biker convention.
Tobin was born in England but moved to Canada as a boy. After moving back to the U.K. 10 years ago, Tobin worked at a Harley Davidson dealership in south London as a mechanic.
According to a press release by Warwickshire police, a trial date has been set for October 2008.
Two other men also facing murder and firearms offences in connection to Tobin's death will enter their pleas next month.
The five men that pleaded not guilty today are:
- Ian Cameron, 45, from Coventry,
- Malcolm Bull, 52, from Milton Keynes,
- Simon Turner, 40, from Nuneaton,
- Dane Garside, 41, from Coventry
- Dean Taylor, 46, from Coventry.
Details of the case
Police have previously said that a green Rover 600 series car, with two or three people inside, started following Tobin and two other motorcyclists as they returned from the festival.
Several kilometres later, the green car overtook two of the three motorcycles and came close to Tobin.
Two shots are believed to have been fired, and one of those struck Tobin on his head just below his helmet.
Tobin fell off his motorcycle, which continued to career another 200 yards down the road.
Autopsy results show Tobin died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Police have also confirmed that Tobin had no criminal record in the U.K. or Canada.
Every summer, the Hells Angels stage the popular Bulldog Bash, which attracts approximately 40,000 motorcyclists from around the world for a four-day party at the Long Marston Airfield, near Stratford-upon-Avon.
With files from The Canadian Press
