The District Judge was based at Weatherfield Magistrates Court and presided over the preliminary hearing of Tony Gordon in November 2009. After confirming his full name and address of 7 Coronation Street, Tony was charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. The judge advised that these charges could only be dealt with at Crown Court and after establishing that there was no application for bail, Tony was remanded in custody until Monday 4th January 2010. As he was taken down, a hysterical Michelle Connor started shouting at him from the public gallery. The judge ordered her to sit down otherwise she would be held in contempt of court.
In the following March, the judge also presided over the preliminary hearing of Gail McIntyre. After the Court Clerk confirmed her full name and address of 8 Coronation Street, the judge informed her that she was charged with one count of murder and again, the seriousness of the charge meant that her case could only be heard at Crown Court. He referred the case to be heard on 6th July 2010. After the judge denied her application for bail, he ordered Gail to be taken down.