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Man in court accused of murder outside cocktail bar

BBC A footballer wearing a black and white football shirtBBC
Rico Wilson, who played non-league football in Dorset, has been charged with murder

A man has appeared in court charged with murder following the death of a 41-year-old man outside a cocktail bar.

Former semi-professional footballer Rico Wilson, 35, is accused of killing father of two James Blanch, outside MyBar in Charminster Road, Bournemouth, in the early hours of Monday morning.

Wilson, from Bournemouth, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody.

He will next appear before the same court on Friday 10 July.

Police were called to reports of an assault outside the bar at about 03:00 BST on 6 April.

Blanch, from Christchurch, was pronounced dead at the scene.

James has a light brown beard and wears a yellow cap and t-shirt.
James Blanch has two children and the family released a statement saying they were "heartbroken beyond belief"

In the early stages of the investigation, two men from Bournemouth – aged 37 and 46 – and a 34-year-old man from Poole were arrested on suspicion of murder.

They have all now been released without charge in relation to the murder, say Dorset Police.

A 39-year-old man from Bournemouth who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

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