Teenage murder accused named

THE South Grafton teenager charged with murder over the shooting of a man in Raymond Terrace in June has been identified as Daniel James Forbes, of McNamara Avenue, South Grafton.

Forbes appeared in Newcastle Local Court yesterday, where his case was adjourned to October 13. He did not enter a plea or apply for bail.

He was arrested in Belmont, near Newcastle, on Wednesday and charged with murder and affray over the shooting death of Raymond Terrace man Joshua Maynard on June 30.

A media report at the time said Mr Maynard and four other residents, who lived near Links Drive in Raymond Terrace, confronted a noisy group of 20 males just after midnight. An altercation ensued and Mr Maynard was shot in the chest. An ambulance rushed him to the John Hunter Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr Maynard, 21, was engaged and had a two-year-old son and a baby daughter born only days before his murder.

A newspaper reported yesterday that Forbes' co-accused, Chad Ross Sheddon and John Wayne Sheddon, also faced Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday after being charged in July with Mr Maynard's murder. They will reappear in October.

Police allege Chad Sheddon, 32, of Wentworth Street, Wallsend, pulled the trigger. John Sheddon, 31, of Links Drive, Raymond Terrace, was also charged with murder and affray.