Boys aged 13 and 17 in court charged with murder of dad outside Wigan Parish Church

Steven McMyler, 34, was kicked in the head in the grounds of Wigan Parish Church shortly before 7.50pm on August 6 and pronounced dead at the scene.

The juvenile, from Merseyside, was not required to enter a plea at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to the charge.

Appearing with him in the dock on Monday was a 17-year-old youth, from Merseyside, also accused of Mr McMyler’s murder.

Both cannot be named for legal reasons.

They will next appear from custody for a plea hearing at Manchester Crown Court on October 30, alongside a third defendant, Jordan Short, 19, of Rushey Hey Road, Kirkby, who has already appeared in court charged with murder.

A provisional trial date of February 1 has been set.

In a tribute issued last week, Mr McMyler’s family said he was “a popular lad” who had “a heart of gold”.