TWO men have appeared in court charged with the murder of Chorley accountant David Wilson four years ago.

Stephen James Playle, 34, of The Firs, Longlands Road, Sidcup, Kent, and Michael Crossley, 34, of the Six Bells pub, Old Perry Street, Northfleet, Kent, made appearances before Chorley Magistrates' Court.

They are accused of murdering Mr Wilson, 47, at his home in Withnell on March 5, 1992.

They are also accused of the unlawful imprisonment of Mr Wilson's daughter Michelle Wilson on the same date.

Playle, who first went before the court last Friday, was remanded in custody at Chorley Police Station before making another appearance before the magistrates on Monday.

No application for bail was made and legal aid was granted. He was remanded in custody until May 13.

Crossley made his first appearance on Monday when bail was refused by the magistrates and he was remanded in custody until April 22.

A team of Lancashire detectives from the Chorley incident room arrested the two men at their homes last week with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police and the Kent County Constabulary following inquiries in the London area.

Mr Wilson died after being shot through the head in the garage at his home.

American businessman Michael Austin, who also used the name Hector Portillo, was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 1995 for ordering the killing. He has been granted permission to appeal against the sentence.

Mr Wilson was killed after backing out of a multi-million pound cigarette fraud.

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